5 Bedside Care Tips for Caregivers

5 Bedside Care Tips for Caregivers 

Bedside care is an essential part of caregiving. Caregivers should be concerned with the physical and mental well being of their loved ones. Many who provide care feel frustration because the person for whom they are caring is surly, uncooperative, and unpleasant. This can be due to pain, unhappiness with their life situation, and many other reasons. Despite the reasons, compassion and kindness is key. Unfortunately, this hard for caregivers when they are tired, overworked, and expected to do a lot. The following is a look at 5 tips for even the overworked caregivers:

1. Smile when you walk in. One of the best things you can do as a caregiver is to remember to smile. There will be days when you are overworked and overwhelmed. However, your loved one who is bed-ridden is probably just as frustrated with their situation as you are with yours. Approach care with a happy attitude and it will be a lot easier. And when you can’t, fake it until you can. Serve with a smile.

2. Address physical comfort. Requiring bedside care usually means an individual is bed-ridden. This can be extremely uncomfortable. From skin chaffing due to incontinence, to bed sores, and more. When offering bedside care, address the physical comforts of the individual. Make sure the room is the right temperature, that they have socks if they want them, that their pillow is properly adjusted. Do the little things to help improve their comfort.

3. Engage in small talk. Bedside care is more than just making sure the individual does not develop bed-sores or go hungry due to immobility. Emotional and mental health is also important. Talking to the individual you are offering care to, and not just about his or her medical condition can greatly improve the situation. They will feel cared for, not just physically so. Ask about their interests. Talk to them about yours. Take time to treat them as more than a person needing care, but also as an individual.

4. Get the right supplies. Having the right tools can make care far easier. These include things like bedside organizers, and hair shampooers to room deodorizers and adult absorbent products. You can find what you need to make bedside care easier for both the caregiver and the loved one being cared for. The CareGiver Partnership offers hundreds of supplies, and an easy to talk to and knowledgeable product specialists to help you find the right ones for your situation.

5. Provide proper nutrition. Nutrition should top the list of concerns for caregivers as millions of seniors suffer the ill-effects of malnutrition. Make sure that the person for whom you care is not only getting enough calories, but from the right sources of foods. When you are filling overwhelmed, consider hiring a meal delivery service to make sure this crucial aspect does not get overlooked.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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