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Tips for Caring for a Senior Who is Restricted to Their Bed

August 2, 2016

Elderly Care in Tequesta FL

Elderly Care in Tequesta FLThere are many reasons that a senior may be restricted to their bed. They could be suffering from a serious prolonged illness that requires them to rest, or recovering from an injury, illness, or procedure that necessitates them staying in bed. This can pose a variety of challenges for you as their caregiver, but it is extremely important that you take the time to create a care approach designed to address their needs effectively, efficiently, and comfortably so that they can make the most out of the time that they spend in their bed. Use these tips to help you care for a senior who is restricted to their bed:
• Remove clutter. A cluttered space will make your parent feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed. This can have a negative impact on their mental and emotional health, and influence their ability to heal and recover. Take the time to remove clutter and design a healing space that is clean, organized, and calm to promote better healing. This does not mean making the entire space sparse and empty. Having a few familiar items and reminders of loved one and favorite people, places, and things can give your loved one an emotional boost that improves their wellbeing and chances of healing.
• Promote movement. Simply because your parent is restricted to their bed does not mean that they should not move at all. In fact, even if your parent is unable to get out of their bed or move around much, it is still important that they get as much physical activity as possible. Changing positions regularly is important to preventing potentially serious complications such as pressure sores and blood clots. Promote movement in simple ways such as putting plenty of pillows near the bed. This will allow your parent to sit up straighter when they want to with the pillows propped behind them. They can also use the pillows to elevate their legs or other parts of their body as necessary. You can also promote movement by offering handheld items such as light weights that your parent can lift or a stretching band. Be sure to talk to their doctor about your parent's activity needs to get recommendations that can help them to be active safely and healthily.
• Keep their mind active. A person who is not able to move out of bed can suffer from reduced mental stimulation. This can lead to mental and emotional complications, as well as increased risk of cognitive decline. There are many ways that you can keep your parent's mind active, but one of the most effective is elderly care. An elderly home care services provider can be with your parent when needed to offer companionship and conversation, play cards, play board games, engage in arts and crafts, and offer other forms of mental stimulation. This care provider can also help with potentially challenging care tasks associated with being in bed, such as how to handle bathing or washing their hair.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Tequesta, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.