Tuesday, November 8, 2011

In Home Care Medford NJ – Bed Baths for Bedbound Seniors

Senior helpers of medford nj talks about Bed baths

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In Home Care Medford NJ – Bed Baths for Bedbound Seniors

If you’re providing senior care to someone who is bedbound, you may need to administer a bed bath. To make this process easier, ask help from someone with whom the patient feels comfortable, perhaps his mate or relative. If this is not possible, it is best to encourage the senior in your care to take part in the bath. Here are some of the most important things to remember when performing a bed bath:
Tips for Elder Care Bed Baths
  1. Gather all the things you need in advance (such as water containers, liquid soap, towels, flannels, light cotton blanket, lotion and other toiletries) and place them near the bed.
  2. Place either plastic sheets or towels all around the elderly person as well as on the floor.
  3. Wash your hands before starting.
  4. Make sure the water is not too hot or too cold for the senior, maintaining its temperature at 120 degrees F is advisable.
  5. Always replenish the water as it gets dirty or cools down.
  6. Ensure that the room temperature is warm enough for the senior. Windows must be closed all throughout the process.
  7. If the room is not carpeted, it is wise to put newspapers on the floor as this can easily absorb any overspill as well as prevent slipping accidents.
  8. To keep the senior’s privacy and warmth, you may cover him with a light cotton blanket during the bed bath.
How to Administer Bed Bath
During the bed bath, you should begin by washing the senior’s face and upper body. Then proceed with washing his arms and legs. To keep him warm, you may use a thin blanket to cover body parts that are not being washed. Afterwards, carefully turn the senior until his back is facing towards you. This way, you can wash his shoulders, back, and bottom. Finally, wash his private parts all the way from front to back using a new basin of warm water. For convenience, you may also use special wipes to keep these parts clean.
Remember to dry every part of the body thoroughly to prevent chills. After washing and drying the senior, make sure that you replace the blanket. Applying lotion on his skin is also advisable as this can soothe the skin and prevent it from drying. Remember to consult a professional caregiver before giving a senior care bed bath, just in case there is a medical issue that must be taken into consideration.
For More Information Please Visit In Home Senior Care Philadelphia

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