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Caregiving Tips
Miscellaneous Tips:
Prepare two cards which contain information on current medications, changes in the physical and mental condition of your loved one and any other pertinent information. Keep one in your wallet for use during trips to the hospital/doctor and one attached to the front of the refrigerator for visiting nurses and doctors.
To easily maneuver walk over carpets, cut a hole in two tennis balls, insert the walker legs into the holes and the walker will move over the carpet with much less effort.
Use a multi-pocketed apron to carry a portable phone and other items that you need frequently. This will save you energy and needless steps.
Watch for the development of redness or a break in the skin on heels, elbows, buttocks, hips and knees, etc. Prevent skin break-down by ensuring that clothing does not restrict blood flow.
If you begin to notice red spots on arms and elbows of those using wheelchairs, start using wheelchair armrest covers so that the affected area can begin to heal. Armrest covers comes in synthetic sheepskin and nylon. Both are soft to the touch, washable, and they overcome the hard feel of the standard plastic wheelchair armrests. At the same time, they provide much needed pressure relief so that pain will be reduced and healing can begin.
Should your loved one reside in a long term care facility, be sure to take note of the condition of the wheelchair/geri-chair upholstery which includes the seat, back and armrests, calf supports etc. Under no condition should there be any areas of the upholstery that is torn, cracked or peeling. Such upholstery can cause skin tears for those with fragile and delicate skin conditions. Once the skin is broken this can lead to infection which may become a serious concern for those with compromised immune systems.
If your loved one is confined to a wheelchair choose a high density foam or a gel cushion to provide protection from skin breakdown. Remind them to shift their weight periodically to allow blood flow and to redistribute pressure. This will help to keep the skin nourished and healthy.
Do not use low pressure foam (such as egg crate) as it will flatten or bottom out and does not properly distribute weight over the surface of the cushion to relieve pressure. These products can cause more problems than they were ever meant to resolve. When foam flattens or bottoms out your body does not get pressure relief and skin prone to breakdown will not heal, in fact, it will exacerbate the problem. Additionally, "egg crate" type foam usually does not come with a cover, and if it does have a cover, the fabric most likely does not have a vapor barrier to prevent liquid leak-through into the foam itself. This means that liquids, food, urine, etc. will become embedded in the foam. Bacteria will develop, as will odor, and if the skin is torn or scratched, infection can develop. To relieve pressure it is necessary to obtain good quality, flame retardant foam that will provide pressure relief and a cover material with a vapor barrier to hinder leak through into the foam.
