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How to Care for a Bedridden Patient


About this topic


Many illnesses can cause a person to stay in bed. These may be short-term or may last forever. The patient may have some movement, may be able to move very little, or not move at all. When this happens, full-time care is needed while the patient heals. You will need a great deal of patience and a plan to be able to cope with these changes. ‚  

General


Here are some things to think about when caring for someone who must stay in bed. ‚  
Comfort ‚  
  • Ask what you need to do to make your patient feel comfortable.
  • Check the bed to see if it is soft or hard enough. You may want to have a special bed where the head raises.
  • Use a soft pillow to support your patients head and neck. Other pillows are good for helping with positioning.
  • Keep the room at a comfortable temperature for your patient. Your patient may need extra blankets or may want only a sheet. Change the bedding at least every 2 to 3 days. Also change the bedding whenever it is dirty.
  • Dress your patient in cozy, breathable clothing.
  • Rub your patient's back every day. This encourages blood to flow throughout the body.
  • Provide your patient with entertainment. A TV, computer, or radio may help pass the time. Ask about getting any tools that will help your patient use these on their own.
  • Talk to your patient. Tell your patient about your day and the people around you. Let your patient know that you are happy to be the caregiver.

Feeding ‚  
  • Give your patient a healthy diet. Food is important to healing.
  • Give small servings of food a few times a day. Based on your patient's status, you may need to cut food into smaller pieces. Avoid giving nuts, whole grapes, candies, or food that may make your patient choke.
  • Encourage your patient to drink lots of water.
  • Wash your hands before and after feeding your patient.
  • When feeding, have your patient in a sitting position. Avoid giving food while your patient is lying flat in bed.
  • If your patient has a feeding tube, ask the doctor how to give food through this tube. Make sure you know what to do in case of problems with the feeding tube. Learn what kinds of food are OK to give through the feeding tube.

Movements ‚  
  • If your patient can move, remind them to move the arms, legs, shoulder, and hips. Tell your patient to move limbs up and down, twist, and turn. Have the patient repeat this process a few times a day.
  • If your patient cannot move without help, you will need to help. Move your patient's arms and legs often. Ask the doctor how to do range of motion exercises. It is important to move your patient's whole body every couple of hours. Have the patient lie on one side and then the other. This may help prevent bed sores.
  • Make sure not to stretch your patient's body too much. Your patient may have brittle bones, especially if elderly.
  • Take caution when moving joints and limbs with fractures or injured bones.
  • Change your patient's position every 2 hours. This will take pressure off where your patient lies. Let your patient lie on one side, the back, and then the other side. Then, change to the other side from where your patient lies. Apply powder or lotion on the back before letting your patient lie on the back.
  • Help your patient sit up from time to time. Put pillows under the back for support while in the sitting position.

Taking Drugs ‚  
  • Keep a chart or list of your patient's drugs. This will help you to give all the doses.
  • If your patient has swallowing problems, do not leave your patient's side until they swallow pills or capsules completely. Talk to the doctor about liquid drugs or mixing a drug with a small amount of food.
  • Bring a bite of banana or pudding with you when giving pills or capsules. A bite of something soft can make swallowing easier. It will push the capsules or tablets down the food pipe.

Hygiene ‚  
  • Give your patient a bath every day. A sponge bath can be done if your patient cannot sit in a tub or shower chair.
  • Brush your patient's hair every day.
  • Brush your patient's teeth or let your patient brush the teeth after meals. Clean your patient's dentures regularly.
  • Clip your patient's fingernails and toenails weekly. If the nails grow too long, they may scratch or injure themselves.
  • In men, shave or trim the mustache and beard at least once a week.
  • Most patients like to have the face washed every morning. Clean the eyes by wiping from the inside corner to the outside.
  • Offer a bedpan or change your patient's diaper at least every 4 to 6 hours or when it gets soiled. Keep track of how often your patient has a bowel movement.
    • Use a pad or absorbent brief to keep the moisture away from your skin.
    • Keep the skin as clean as possible. Wash it with a mild cleaner and warm water. Avoid soaps that can dry out the skin and hot water.
    • Pat the area to dry and do not rub.
    • Use a wetness barrier cream. Do this each time after using the bathroom or bedpan.

Wound Care ‚  
  • Keep your patient's wound clean and dry. Wash your hands before touching the wound or dressing.
  • Change bandages each day or when they get soiled.
  • If there are splints, braces, or casts, keep them secure and in place. You can remove splints or braces when giving your patient a bath. Place or secure them back properly after the bath.

Tubes and Catheters ‚  
  • If your patient has a urine tube, this needs to be changed every 2 to 3 weeks. Ask the doctor how to do this. Also, learn how to care for the urine tube.
  • I.V. tubes and catheters need extra care to keep them free of infection. Ask the doctor how to care for them.
  • You may need to help your patient get rid of extra saliva from the mouth. Your patient may also have a breathing tube. Learn how to care for these things.
  • Some patients need extra care to drain urine or stool from a bag on the belly. Ask the doctor how to care for this if your patient has a bag.
  • Make sure your patient's tubes and bags are secure. Make sure the tape is still sticky.

Other Devices ‚  
  • If your patient has a talking device, always keep the device nearby.
  • If your patient has a pacemaker, hearing aid, or other device with a battery, remember that the battery might run out. Mark the date of possible battery replacement on a calendar.
  • For patients on ventilators, make sure no one else can manipulate the device. Call your doctor right away when the device is not working right.
  • If your patient has a prosthetic arm or leg, make sure not to get it wet. Protect it by covering it when giving your patient a bath or feeding them.


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What will the results be?


Proper care for a bedridden patient can make your patient happy and comfortable while healing. You will also be able to take proper care of devices and treatments that your patient needs while getting better. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Bed sores
  • Skin problems
  • Food getting into the lungs
  • Lung infection
  • Blood clots

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
  • Bed sores
  • Bleeding
  • Changes in color, amount, and odor of urine
  • Blood in stool
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Tubes come out and get dislodged
  • Changes in behavior
  • Loss of appetite

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my patients condition.
  • I can tell you how I will give my patient comfort, hygiene, and food.
  • I can tell you what I will do if my patient has bedsores; or a change in color, amount, or odor of my urine.

Where can I learn more?


Northwest Regional Family Support Council ‚  
http://www.nwrcwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Caring-for-the-Bedridden-Patient.pdf ‚  
World Health Organization ‚  
http://applications.emro.who.int/aiecf/IMAI_Caregiver_en.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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