Having to prepare a hospital room at home can be a source of significant anxiety. Even if you’re not taking care of a terminally-ill patient, it’s essential to get it right. Therefore, planning is critical. Let’s discuss ways to prepare yourself mentally, what you need to purchase, and how you can make the process of making a loved one comfortable as hassle-free as possible.
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Caregiver Preparation
Professional care services at home exist, but rarely anybody can afford them 24/7. So, get ready to assist the patient yourself. First and foremost, have a long talk with the doctors before leaving the hospital. Make a list of all the essential tasks you’ll have to perform and ask follow-up questions if you don’t understand anything. Follow professional advice about equipment, medication, food, and everything else.
You’re taking a person you care about back home. Knowing you’re doing all you can for them does wonders for coping with the challenge. Another thing that could help is to remove all possible hazards around the future hospital room. It’ll make it easier to handle stress, especially when you’re not home for work, grocery shopping, or chores.
At-Home Care Essentials
Your patient will likely spend most of their time in bed. It’s on you to set up enough adequate space before taking them home. A regular bed can do the trick with lighter conditions. However, hospital beds are a more comfortable and safer way to provide care to the patient, removing potential barriers, and making them more independent and mobile.
These specialized sleeping areas have movable foot and head parts to elevate and lower as needed. They’re usually wheeled and come with rails for safety purposes.
Once you have the bed in place, focus on the bathroom, as most falls occur in this room. Plus, it’s where patients need the most independence. Grab bars, raised toilet seats, and shower chairs are all ways of increasing their comfort levels.
Other essential items to acquire include:
- Dressings for wounds
- Incontinence supplies
- Extra bedding
- Walking assistance equipment
- An over-the-bed table
If you can’t set aside an entire room for hospital care, choose the most spacious spot or the one closest to the bathroom. Another option is placing the person near the kitchen because most family life takes place there.
Comfort Items
Your loved one will spend days bound to a bed. So, providing comfort is the most significant thing you can do for them. One of the best ways to do so is psychological. While providing necessary care is essential, maintaining your everyday habits gives them a sense of normalcy. Going back to their daily lives will become more imaginable, too.
However, it’ll sometimes be necessary to adjust lighting, sound, and temperature to meet the patient’s needs.
A good rule of thumb about light is making sure there’s enough in the room for reading. Make it easy to screen, though – it can get uncomfortable if the sun hits the window directly over the bed. Moreover, medication can make people sensitive to temperature fluctuation. So, install a steady source of warmth, such as a fan or radiator, and get enough blankets.
Other than that, think about the things the person enjoys in their regular, non-bedridden life. Try to provide those items as long as it’s safe. For example, an injured patient can’t do yoga, but they can play their favorite game on a laptop with enough ergonomics equipment.
The Bottom Line
Overall, while taking care of a patient at home is stressful, it doesn’t have to take over your entire life. Both your bed-bound patient and yourself will appreciate a bit of a positive outlook. Take your tasks seriously, but try to bring light to your situation.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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