home Auditorium 8 Proper care of bedridden patients. Caring for a bedridden patient. Bedsores and prevention of pneumonia

Proper care of bedridden patients. Caring for a bedridden patient. Bedsores and prevention of pneumonia

Caring for a bedridden patient requires the presence of certain skills - for example, you need to know what products to treat the skin with, how to organize oral care, what care products will not harm the weakened body.

Table of contents:

cleansing the skin;
prevention of bedsores and inflammatory processes in the anus, genitals and natural folds;
therapy for skin restoration.

Hygiene of bedridden patients

Such procedures for bedridden patients should be carried out twice a day and the optimal time for this would be the period immediately after waking up and before breakfast, before going to bed at night. To ensure that the hygienic procedure does not pose problems for people who care for a bedridden patient, it is worth preparing the following means in advance:

inflatable bath for washing hair;
a jug, or any other vessel, for warm water;
two basins for water;
pelvis stand;
cosmetics and “tools” - gels, foams, mittens and sponges;
absorbent diapers;
gauze napkins;
medical and cleaning gloves;
cotton buds;
paper and/or fabric towels;
toothbrushes (if the patient cannot brush his teeth on his own, then he will need to purchase special brushes);
rubberized diapers and disposable oilcloths;
cotton wool;
colostomy bags;
items for haircuts, shaving and manicure/pedicure;
special devices for the prevention of bedsores - bolsters, circles or mattresses.

This list may vary depending on how severe the patient's situation is. For example, you may need:

gynecological and urological pads;
disposable underwear;
diapers;
stoma care device;
shower chairs or special grab bars for taking a bath;
dry closet;
toilet chairs.

Note:A more specific list of necessary means and devices for caring for a bedridden patient will be compiled by his attending physician, since everything depends on the diagnosis.

Before you begin to perform skin cleansing procedures, you need to get rid of drafts in the room; the air temperature should be at least 20 degrees. Such rules must be observed, since temperature fluctuations and drafts can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases in a bedridden patient, deterioration of his condition - in such patients he is very weakened.

Sequence of the procedure

Having prepared all the equipment and means, ensuring the desired temperature in the room, you need to wear rubber gloves and protect the bed with an absorbent or waterproof oilcloth/sheet. The patient's underwear is removed and hygiene procedures are carried out in strict sequence.

Stage 1 – oral care

If the patient is able to sit, then he is placed on a chair or given a sitting position directly in the bed. If the patient is not allowed to change his body position, then you just need to turn his head to the side. Cotton swabs are used to clean the cheek space from accumulated mucus and saliva, but for this you can use disposable spatulas, which will allow you to move your cheeks away and make the procedure easier.

Brushing your teeth follows the same rules as for a healthy person, but only more carefully, without any effort. After the cheek spaces and teeth are cleaned, it is necessary to rinse the patient’s mouth - this is done with a syringe with a soft tip, which contains either clean warm water or a hygienic solution (hydrogen peroxide, baking soda).

Note:When rinsing the mouth, you need to raise your head above the surface of the bed (if the patient is lying down) to prevent liquid from entering the esophagus and respiratory tract.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of toothbrush and, since in bedridden patients the oral mucosa becomes vulnerable and sensitive to the effects of hard bristles. For patients after a stroke, it is recommended, which has astringent and hemostatic properties, but such recommendations must be given by the attending physician.

After completing the procedure for cleaning the mouth, the patient should blot their lips with an absorbent napkin and apply hygienic lipstick or moisturizing balm to them - this will prevent drying and cracking of the lips. When choosing such products, you need to be sure that they are hypoallergenic.

Stage 2 – washing

A sponge is moistened in warm water and wiped over the face of a bedridden patient. Then they treat the eyes - using two damp cotton pads (one for each eye), wipe them with movements from the outer corner to the inner.

Cleaning the inner surface of the ears and ear canal is carried out using cotton swabs, and then it is necessary to wipe the skin behind the ears, neck and chest area with a damp sponge, paying special attention to the folds under the chest, the surface of the sides and the stomach of the bedridden patient. In parallel with the described actions, the already cleansed areas of the skin are blotted with a cloth (it must have absorbent properties) and covered with a blanket or towel; as you move down, clothes are put on the upper part of the body.

After this, the bedridden patient is carefully turned on his side and the back area is wiped. Immediately you need to blot the treated areas and apply a product to protect against bedsores, which contains zinc or arginine.

Step 3 – hand washing

Each hand of the patient is placed in a bowl of warm water in turn and washed with a sponge or gloves. Particular attention should be paid to cleansing the interdigital space - it is in these places that a large number of pathogenic microorganisms accumulate.

After washing, each hand is dried with a towel, and a moisturizer is applied to the elbows - it is in these areas that roughening of the skin is often observed, so it is necessary to prevent the appearance of cracks. All that remains is to trim your nails and file them with a file, but this is not done daily, but as the nail plates grow.

Stage 4 – intimate hygiene

Before proceeding to this stage, you need to take off your gloves and put on clean ones, prepare new warm water. Hygiene of intimate places is carried out according to the following algorithm:

a waterproof diaper is placed under the patient’s pelvis;
the diaper is removed from the patient;
put a washing mitt on your hand, but you can use a special soft sponge;
moisten a mitten or sponge in warm water and wring it out;
spread the patient's legs, position them so that they are bent at the knees, and the heels are moved as close to the pelvis as possible;
treat the perineum with a moistened sponge/mitten, movements should be directed from the pubis to the anus;
dry the treated area with a disposable towel, or a fabric one, but dedicated specifically for these purposes;
turn the patient on his side and dry the body skin by blotting;
take a clean diaper and put it on the patient.

Step 5 – washing feet

After treating the perineum, they proceed to washing the feet, but first you need to change the water in the basin and put on clean gloves, take a clean sponge or mitten. The foot washing procedure is performed as follows:

wipe the legs up to the ankle joint;
lower the feet into the basin, wash thoroughly, paying special attention to the areas between the toes;
feet are dried with a towel;
the patient turns to his side, the skin of the back of the legs is treated with a special remedy for bedsores;
Lay the patient on his back, trim his toenails, and file the edges of the nails with a pedicure file.

Note:All described hygiene procedures must be carried out daily. This is the only way to prevent the occurrence of bedsores and alleviate the plight of a bedridden patient.

Washing head

This hygienic procedure should be carried out as the hair of a bedridden patient becomes dirty. You should prepare the following:

The bedridden patient should be in a supine position, with an inflatable bath placed under the head. If you use a basin, you need to put a small inflatable pillow under your head, and a cushion under your neck so that your head is thrown back. The head of the bed should be covered with oilcloth or a waterproof diaper, and a basin of water should be installed.

The hair washing procedure is carried out in the following sequence:

Warm water from a jug is poured onto the patient’s head and all the hair is wetted;
apply shampoo, foam;
rinse hair;
wrap your head in a towel and carefully remove the basin, oilcloth or inflatable bath;
carefully, but carefully, wipe the hair;

Some human diseases can greatly damage his physical condition and forever change the life of the patient and relatives. The most common disease after which a person becomes practically bedridden is. In second place in frequency are spinal injuries and oncology. At the same time, a person, due to his condition, cannot move independently, as well as provide independent support. Therefore, relatives or specially trained medical personnel become assistants who are ready to help a sick person at any moment.

Basic principles of caring for a bedridden patient

Aimed at timely assistance and providing all the necessary conditions for the life of a bedridden patient, no matter where the person is - in a hospital or at home. The person caring for the patient must understand what exactly needs to be done and how to correctly perform various manipulations for successful completion, as well as in order to prevent injury to himself or the bedridden patient.

Thus, caring for bedridden patients is built on two basic principles, without which it is simply impossible to achieve complete and comprehensive care.

It is important to understand that patient care is an addition to primary treatment and cannot in any way serve as a substitute. Only a complex of various manipulations and care, together with the main treatment, can alleviate the patient’s condition and improve his well-being.

Aids for complete care

It doesn’t matter where the person is – in a hospital or at home. You should always remember that he must have personal hygiene products (towels, cutlery and dishes, etc.). In addition, full care for bedridden patients at home is possible with the help of special tools and devices that are designed specifically for the care of such patients. You can purchase them in specialized medical equipment stores, and also receive complete instructions for proper use.

Multifunctional bed. It often has a control panel, with which you can easily change the tilt of the bed, raise the backrest at the head and at the feet. This greatly facilitates heavy physical labor when changing the position of the patient’s body. Using such a bed, you can bring the patient into a semi-sitting position for eating. There are also beds with a compartment for when there is no need to lift a person and put him on (if he cannot do it himself). You just need to remove a few spare parts and you have access to the container in which the feces are collected.

Rollers . They are necessary to give a physiological position to the body if the patient cannot move independently. When lying on the side, there must be a cushion behind the patient’s back that will allow the person to relax and not fall back onto his back. Also, rollers are used to reduce the pressure on the heels - when placed under the shin, and when a special round roller is placed under the head - the likelihood of development on the back of the head is reduced. Thus, the likelihood of developing bedsores and the number of complications when caring for bedridden patients is reduced.

Inflatable rubber circle . Used when lying on your back to reduce the pressure of your own weight in the area. This allows you to avoid the formation of bedsores, since this area is most often subject to complications such as bedsores and. it should be wrapped in a cloth or placed under a sheet, while inflating it halfway, otherwise the pelvic area will be much higher than the level of the body and the patient will be uncomfortable.

Disposable wipes . These are special for caring for bedridden patients. They are impregnated with a variety of substances that disinfect, moisturize, and cleanse the skin. Since a common occurrence in such patients is decreased immunity, wipes can reduce the amount of pathogenic microflora on human skin. It promotes infection of the slightest skin lesions and causes complications that greatly worsen the patient’s condition.

Mattress . Complete care for bedridden patients is achieved with the help of a special one. It performs a function. At the same time, it increases blood circulation and reduces pressure on vulnerable areas of the body, since with the help of special cells it inflates and deflates in a certain order. It has been established that these reduce the risk of bedsores by 45% in patients who are forced to lie down for a long time.

Contacting a medical facility

If a person is outside a medical facility and caring for a bedridden patient is carried out at home, it is important to monitor his condition and know when to seek help in order to prevent more serious violations of the patient’s condition. Usually, after discharge from the hospital, doctors give recommendations on caring for bedridden patients and inform them about which symptoms or health conditions require contact with doctors, and which can be treated independently.

When bedsores or bedsores appear, you should first call a therapist to your home so that he can examine the patient and explain which medications should be used for treatment. If the wound enlarges, deepens, or others appear, you should definitely seek help, since in stages 3 and 4, hospitalization of the patient is necessary for the purpose of excision of dead tissue. , wheezing in the lungs, changes in the patient’s consciousness - all these conditions require immediate attention to a medical facility.

In any case, periodic scheduled examinations are necessary and should not be done by the patient on their own, as this can lead to a deterioration in well-being.

Rules for caring for a bedridden patient

To ensure proper and complete care for the patient, it is necessary to take into account that there are various rules that make it possible to provide the patient with maximum physiological and psychological comfort, and also, thanks to these rules, to reduce the number of complications and make patient care easier for medical personnel or relatives.

Room. It should be cozy, spacious and well lit. It is necessary to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. Avoid loud noise in or around the room. If the patient likes, for example, watching TV or listening to the radio, provide the bedridden patient with his favorite activities. The room should be well ventilated, since the influx of fresh air will replace a short walk and ventilate the room, which is also important - air circulation is necessary in a confined space.

Warm. The room should not be hot so that the patient does not sweat and also do not allow the temperature to drop significantly. Hang a thermometer in the room. The most optimal room temperature should be no more than 18-22 degrees. In winter, when ventilating the room, you need to cover the patient with a blanket and prevent the patient from freezing. If the air is too dry, humidify it by placing a vessel with clean water near the radiator or heater, and if it is too humid, ventilate it.
Change of bed linen. When feeding the patient, you should be careful to prevent crumbs from getting on the bed linen and change it in time if, for example, the patient has an uncontrolled act. According to the rules of epidemiology, care for bedridden patients involves changing bed linen as it gets dirty, but not less than once every 48 hours. If the patient has bedsores, repositioning must be done every day, as pathological microorganisms accumulate in the linen.

Transportation . If the patient needs to be transported to any other room or institution, it is important to take into account that all movements must be smooth and careful, since a strong bump or jolt can cause the patient to become very frightened, which will lead to a disturbance in the psycho-emotional state. For transportation, both individual and specialized means of transportation are used - chairs - gurneys and ordinary recumbent gurneys specially designed for bedridden patients.
Furniture arrangement. If the patient can move independently and is able to serve himself with any needs, it is very important to arrange the furniture in such a way that the patient can take the items he needs without effort. In addition, caring for bedridden patients at home will be much easier and more productive if the bed can be approached from all sides.

Compliance with the regime. There are 4 bed rests, which are prescribed for various diseases: from strict bed rest to minor motor restrictions. In addition, it is important to maintain a daily routine in which you need to be awake during the day and sleep at night. this allows family members to relax, while the patient does not feel lonely or abandoned.
Types of bed rest and the amount of allowed physical activity of the patient:

Strict bed rest	Bed rest	Semi-bed rest (ward)	General bed rest
Complete restriction of mobility, which implies that the patient is strictly forbidden to leave the bed, sit or stand up. It is allowed to turn on one side and raise the head end of the bed so that the patient can assume a semi-sitting position.	The patient is allowed to sit up on the bed independently and use the bedside toilet. Walking and standing are not allowed. It is possible to perform light exercises within the bed (lying down).	Motor activity is limited in quantity, that is, standing and walking are possible, but not for a long time. It is prohibited to go outside, as well as to perform intense physical activity, but you can do light exercises, both within the bed and near it.	A person’s physical activity is practically not limited; it is allowed to walk in the fresh air, walk and do physical exercises.

Leisure organization . Here, depending on the motor activity of the bedridden patient and his interests, you can come up with a large number of different activities in which the patient will find it interesting and fun.

Nutrition

If the patient cannot feed himself, he should be helped. To do this, you need to raise the head end of the bed or place it under the back of the bedridden patient so that he is in a semi-sitting position. Feeding the patient when he is in a supine position is strictly prohibited! You should measure the temperature of the food first to ensure it is warm enough.

In case of swallowing disorders, when there is a high risk of choking, food should be given in small portions, carefully and slowly. Do not rush the patient, otherwise there may be unpleasant consequences. Also, do not overfeed the patient, clarify and ask. Otherwise, a full stomach may lead to vomiting.

For some diseases, a special diet is prescribed, in which the patient needs to be fed small portions throughout the day. Often patients do not feel hungry and refuse to eat. You should not indulge them - it is important to follow the doctor’s orders.

Hygienic care

Maintaining hygiene is important for all people, and especially for bedridden patients, since with a decrease in immunity, various diseases associated with insufficient hygiene quite often occur. For example, patients need to brush their teeth every day and rinse their mouths with special disinfectant solutions after any meal.

After each act of defecation, care should be taken to avoid the accumulation of microflora, which has a positive effect on the formation of bedsores. The best thing is to lay the person down and wash him away. This is the most effective way to keep your intimate area clean. Every day you need to wipe the body with damp rags or disposable ones, while using additional products for hygienic care for bedridden patients (foams, lotions, creams). If a person has, the frequency of rubbing should be increased, since sweat is a breeding ground for microorganisms living on the skin.

Washing your hair in bed should be done at least once every 4 days or whenever it gets dirty. It is enough to pull the person to the very top so that his head is outside the bed. For this manipulation, two people will be needed - one will hold the head, and the other. In this case, you need to place an empty basin under the patient’s head, and prepare soap supplies and a second basin with warm water in advance.

Maintaining hygiene for a bedridden patient will allow him to feel comfortable and reduce the number of complications in the future.

Turns and position of the patient in bed

If the patient is completely or partially immobilized and cannot independently change the position of the body, then this should be done for him. Turning is one of the mandatory conditions for caring for bedridden patients. Changing body position allows you to improve blood circulation and provide tissue nutrition with useful substances, and will also reduce the likelihood of formation, bedsores and contractures. Turns should be carried out daily, every 2-2.5 hours - no less. If the patient has serious tissue nutritional disorders due to the disease, the frequency of turns should be increased.

The patient must be turned carefully to prevent injury. If the bed has restrictive sides, they should be raised to prevent the patient from falling out of the bed. When turning, you do not need to take a person by the arm and leg - the correct position of the hands will be on the patient’s shoulder and thigh. Thus, the person who turns the patient will reduce the load on his back and will prevent the patient from dislocating the limb.

To fix a person in one position, they are used. In the lateral position, the bolsters should be behind the patient's back, between the knees and under the upper arm. Thus, those places that are most susceptible will be ventilated, and the flow of fresh air will prevent the formation of complications. Every time a person is turned on his side, the patient's back should be treated with camphor alcohol or any other substance with a similar irritant effect. Rubbing and patting will increase blood flow to these places and improve blood circulation.

Complications when caring for a bedridden patient

Caring for a patient at home does not exclude the formation of complications that can worsen the patient’s condition and even threaten his life. The most common complication in people who are forced to stay in bed for a long time is bedsores. They arise due to insufficient hygiene and a person staying in one body position for a long time. This can be avoided if you follow all the care conditions that are designed specifically for bedridden patients at home.

The second most likely complication is falling out of bed or injuring patients. Compliance with safety measures, such as handrails near the bed and performing similar manipulations together will prevent this from happening. At night, the patient should not be left alone, as he can try to sit down and even stand up on his own. Due to lack of strength and lying in bed for a long time, patients fall to the floor, receiving various injuries. To avoid this, it is enough to observe a sleep-wake schedule in which the patient, if he has not slept all day, will not make any movements alone at night.

The formation of contractures is inevitable if care for sick people is not fully carried out. When the body position changes, the joints begin to move, and if the patient is positioned correctly (with the help of pillows and bolsters), then the joints are in a physiological position and cannot lose mobility. For example, when lying on your back, a person’s feet should be at an angle of 90 degrees, and their arms should be placed on pillows so that they are slightly higher than body level. Kneading the limbs (passive flexion and extension of all joints) can completely eliminate the formation of contractures.

It is also a fairly common complication when caring for bedridden people. With the formation of drafts, hypothermia, and rare changes in body position, stagnation in the pulmonary circulation inevitably leads to this disease. This can be avoided if you follow all the rules for caring for the patient and use additional measures to prevent education. Such measures include breathing exercises (inflating balloons), the use of camphor alcohol after each turn of the patient.

Psychological comfort of the patient and relatives

The very condition when a person becomes recumbent and practically bedridden has a negative effect not only on the patient himself, but also on his relatives. In such a situation, the main thing is to understand that recovery is possible and to let the patient understand that he is not alone. Support and care, communication and contact with a person are certainly important and play a major role. Caring for bedridden patients is not only physical work; creating a comfortable psychological atmosphere between the patient and family is also important.

Daily schedule for a bedridden patient

Time	Action
9.00 – 10.00	Morning toilet, breakfast, room ventilation
10.00 – 11.00	Charger,
11.00 – 13.00	Leisure activities: watching TV, reading books, board games, etc.
13.00 – 15.00	Lunch, hygiene measures after eating
15.00 – 17.00	Rest, sleep
17.00 – 18.00	Afternoon snack, room ventilation
18.00 – 21.00	Leisure and communication with relatives, dinner
21.00 – 23.00	Hygiene procedures, change of bed linen, lights out

If the family decides not to use the services of nurses or medical personnel, it will be useful to rotate each other so that the person does not consider himself a burden. And it is important to remember that if a person can do at least something on his own, give it to him. Motivate for even bigger “small victories” and seemingly insignificant achievements. For a sick person, this is significant progress and a correct, positive reaction will only strengthen the will to recover and will have a positive effect on the psychological state of the patient.

The emergence of conflict situations between a sick person and relatives only aggravates psychological comfort. If you cannot solve the problem on your own, you should contact a psychologist who will help you cope with this and resolve the conflict. Caring for bedridden patients is a difficult task that will require support, communication and understanding from the family, which will help maintain strong family relationships.

Video

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How to care for a sick person?

It is known that caring for a sick person requires a lot of time. However, a sick person cannot do without care, and if it turns out that he must be treated at home, then it is advisable to have someone look after him. The caregiver, be it a nurse or just a friend, needs to have an understanding of caring for a sick person.

Let's look at how to care for a patient.

Providing comfort

Comfort is the most important component in caring for a sick person. The bed on which the patient will lie should be quite comfortable, moderately hard, with a fresh mattress, clean bed linen and a warm blanket. The patient should have a comfortable pillow; there should not be any additional things on the bed. If the room is warm enough, the patient will not need a blanket that is too warm. He can cover himself with a sheet or light blanket.

Liquid intake

A sick person should consume fluids regularly. At a minimum, it should be clean drinking water. If the patient is allowed a hot drink, then he can consume broths, hot tea with raspberries or honey. The caregiver should know that for illnesses such as colds or flu, the patient should drink hot liquids every half hour.

Personal hygiene

Any sick person needs to maintain personal hygiene. However, with many diseases, a person is not able to provide it on his own. For example, with the flu, a person often cannot get out of bed without assistance.

If the patient is able to stand on his feet, then you can take him to the bathroom and perform water procedures there. Please note that under no circumstances should the patient be immersed in a bathtub or his hair washed: in this case, the virus will only increase its effect on the body. Simply use a sponge dampened with water. The water should be warm and not very hot. You can use special formulations, for example, a scrub. Make sure that the bathroom maintains a comfortable temperature, not lower than room temperature. Water procedures should be carried out for no more than 10 minutes. When finished, rub the patient with a towel. Make sure it is wiped dry. Wrap the patient in a towel and begin cleaning the mouth.

If the patient is unable to stand, then water procedures can be performed right in bed. To do this, prepare a bucket of warm water and a small sponge. Wet the sponge and squeeze it out completely. Gently rub the patient's skin with a damp sponge. In this case, it is desirable that the water contains some kind of soap solution, for example, you can add a little shower gel. To make it convenient to carry out water procedures in this case, it is necessary for the patient to move his torso to a vertical position. If the patient experiences difficulties, be sure to help him. Remember that even in a horizontal position, his head must be supported with a bolster.

Upon completion of the water procedure, be sure to dry the patient with a towel. Make sure that water does not get on the bed.

Nutrition and medication

When caring for a patient, it is necessary to remember that the body of a sick person needs calories to fight the disease, if we are talking about a viral infection. If a person suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, food intake should be limited and follow the prescribed instructions of the doctor. At high temperatures, the patient is strongly advised not to consume fatty foods. For almost any disease, it is not recommended to eat spicy, smoked and highly salted foods.

The best food for the patient will be soups, various cereals, boiled chicken or beef. It will also be beneficial to eat vegetables and fruits. When you have a fever, you should never eat cold food: salads, ice cream, or drink cold drinks.

Medicines must be taken as prescribed by your doctor. A person caring for a sick person must remember that if the patient forgot to take the medicine on time, then he should not take a double dose, especially if we are talking about mixing drugs.

Among other things, the patient needs to maintain bed rest, go to bed on time, not spend a lot of time at the computer or give it up altogether. Remain calm and physically passive.

One of the most important and labor-intensive processes of caring for patients who are unable to move and care for themselves is maintaining their cleanliness. Not every caregiver is able to easily cope with the current situation, not fully understanding how to organize competent hygienic care for their family member.

In order to prevent complications from a bedridden lifestyle (such as bedsores, diaper rash, pustular skin lesions, eye diseases, etc.), you need to know what care products for bedridden patients at home prevent their formation.

General hygiene products

Keeping the body, mouth, eyes, ears, and intimate areas of a bedridden patient clean should become a daily procedure. The psychological comfort of a bedridden person largely depends on this. To do this, it is not at all necessary to use expensive hygiene products for bedridden patients. Pharmacies, retail and online stores offer a wide range of care products in different price categories, available to everyone in need.

For oral care

To carry out the teeth cleaning procedure, you will need the following hygiene products:

The main item of care for bedridden patients at home when brushing their teeth is a brush with soft bristles, which will prevent damage to the gums (especially in older people). When caring for a bedridden patient, special attention should be paid to the choice of toothpaste. All oral hygiene pastes are divided into 3 main categories:

№	Paste categories	Purpose
1.	Actually hygienic	Designed to eliminate soft dental deposits such as plaque and food debris. The use of these products is indicated in the absence of oral pathology: caries, periodontitis, stomatitis.
2.	Multicomponent medicinal	Used for patients burdened with dental pathology. Some antifungal compound toothpastes have been successfully used for bedridden patients with oral candidiasis.
3.	Treatment and prevention	Such products contain in their list of components an increased content of microelements (fluorine and calcium), which support the protective characteristics of the enamel and prevent the development of caries, which can often be found in a bedridden patient.

A spatula is needed to fix the oral cavity in a static position, and hygiene sticks are used to remove plaque and food debris. It is not recommended to use toothpicks for these purposes, because... they can damage the gums, which will cause an inflammatory process.

Vaseline or nourishing cream are products for bedridden patients necessary to moisturize lips after brushing their teeth.

For washing hair

There is an opinion that one of the most difficult manipulations in caring for a bedridden patient is washing your hair. However, there are now products on sale that greatly facilitate this procedure. Special detergents are also sold, thanks to which the issue of cleanliness of the hair of a bedridden patient will no longer be a problem.

A bath for washing hair in bed is one of the most necessary hygiene products for caring for a bedridden patient. It is an inflatable container with a headrest, in which the head is comfortably fixed without putting strain on the shoulder girdle. The kit of such a bathtub necessarily includes a hose, which, when connected to the hole for draining the water, allows you to empty the bathtub without unnecessary hassle.

Proper hygiene for bedridden patients is carried out by choosing a suitable detergent, i.e. shampoo. A high-quality shampoo should have excellent moisturizing and nourishing properties, be hypoallergenic and gentle on the scalp. For elderly people and those with weakened immune systems, shampoos containing urea, which regulates the process of natural change of the epidermis, are suitable.

Patients with short hair can use special dry shampoos that do not require water when used. This is an aerosol bottle that, when sprayed onto the scalp, absorbs all the settled dirt and grease from the hair and is easily removed with a comb. This hygienic product for caring for a bedridden patient is convenient in everyday life if there is not enough time to thoroughly wash your hair.

Also, when there is a limited amount of water, special caps are used for washing hair - very convenient personal hygiene products for bedridden patients. They are also used in situations where the patient is against someone else touching his head. The cap contains a special gel or shampoo with conditioner that cleanses hair without water.

For nail treatment

Hygiene for bedridden patients in this case does not differ fundamentally from the usual methods of treating fingers and toes. Nails should be neatly trimmed, filed, disinfected and treated with moisturizer.

Instead of scissors, you can use large manicure and pedicure clippers. They are stronger and sharper due to their massiveness, which greatly simplifies the cutting process.

The choice of file depends on the thickness of the nails. Each file has its own grit index (degree of abrasiveness). The thicker the nails, the larger the number should be. For caring for a bedridden patient, a file with a range of 180 – 240 grit is suitable.

Important! All devices for treating nails must be individual. After each procedure they must be disinfected.

Since the nails of bedridden patients are often affected by fungus, they become quite hard. In this case, it is necessary to treat them with hygienic antifungal creams such as Bifosin or Nogtivit, which quickly get rid of the fungus and soften the nail plate.

An alternative to pharmaceutical antifungal drugs is a bath with tar soap, which has a good softening effect on nails. This can be a good hygienic means of caring for the nails of a bedridden patient.

For eye care

A bedridden patient often cannot control the cleanliness of his own eyes, so one of the tasks of loved ones is to pay attention to these areas of the body. To wash the eyes from hygiene products for caring for a bedridden patient at home, you will need:

cotton pad;
saline;
antiseptic solutions;
herbal decoctions.

Instead of ordinary water, it is better to purchase saline solution at the nearest pharmacy, because... it is softer than running water. If discharge from the eyes appears, solutions with chlorhexidine, boric acid or furatsilin will be quite effective.

A speck in the eye can cause considerable discomfort to a bedridden patient, and a simple napkin soaked in tea leaves or a mild saline solution can be a good remedy. Supporters of herbal medicine will respect such hygiene products as chamomile decoction, dill juice, rosehip infusion, bay leaf lotions, drops of propolis water or honey.

Important! Using herbal decoctions and bee products to treat mucous membranes, make sure that the patient is not allergic to these products.

For ear treatment

When caring for a bedridden patient, do not forget about hygienic treatment of the ears. Most often, cotton swabs are used to clean the ear canals. For both healthy and sick people, this remedy is unproductive, since sulfur can settle deep in the ear, forming cerumen plugs. Therefore, aqueous solutions in the form of drops are used as means of hygienic ear cleaning. Care products for bedridden patients such as hydrogen peroxide and urea peroxide are inexpensive and popular methods of cleaning the ear canals. To carry out the entire procedure, it is enough to inject 10 drops of the drug into the ear.

In elderly bedridden patients, deafness is a fairly common phenomenon. When using hearing aids, earwax builds up at an accelerated rate. For such patients, there is the drug Remo-Vax in the form of ear drops. It efficiently removes sulfur deposits and prevents the formation of sulfur plugs. To solve this problem, hygiene products with surfactant - A-cerumen and Vaxol - have proven themselves well.

Intimate hygiene products

Maintaining the cleanliness of the intimate areas of a bedridden patient is ensured by the use of various devices and hygiene products. Manufacturers are trying to produce such products so that the patient and the person caring for them experience a minimum of physical and psychological discomfort when carrying out a delicate procedure for caring for the perineal area of a bedridden patient.

Diapers

A diaper is a special hygienic product for the care of bedridden patients, consisting of fabric that has a high absorption capacity and is used for high-quality and comfortable care for a person.

There are 2 types of diapers - disposable and for long-term use. If we compare these products, the advantage of disposable diapers over regular ones is obvious. Thanks to the porous structure of the material of disposable diapers, a bedridden patient is protected from skin maceration, the formation of bedsores and diaper rash, and the appearance of. This is due to the fact that this diaper contains multilayer pressed cellulose. In addition, they more reliably protect the bed from dirt.

Simple diapers made of linen fibers or cotton fabrics curl and wrinkle easily, irritate the skin, which leads to the formation of bedsores and diaper rash. In addition, if disposable diapers are disposed of when they become dirty, then regular fabric ones must be washed and ironed daily with a hot iron, which takes a lot of time.

Important! Treatment of reusable diapers with a hot iron is mandatory to prevent the occurrence of secondary infection.

These are special hygiene products, which are disposable bags that are used for stomas () communicating with the external environment. When natural is not possible, such a bag is fixed in the hole and collects the excreted feces. This hygienic product for caring for bedridden patients is used very often, and it is important to know what it is.

Colostomy bags differ in components:

One-component. These are ordinary bags for collecting discharge.
Two-component. They consist of a special adhesive plate that is attached to the stoma, and then a bag for the discharge is attached to this plate. The advantage of such a device is that it creates a “second skin” effect. The hygiene of replacing such a colostomy bag for bedridden patients is much more comfortable than usual.

Stoma care products

Ostomy care is an important aspect of care for patients who are unable to relieve themselves naturally. Keeping this area clean will prevent unpleasant odors and prevent infection. The table describes the main stoma care products, which are highly desirable to use for bedridden patients.

Name of the product	Method of application and effects
Pastes-sealants	They are used to heal and reduce skin irritation, as well as form a waterproof barrier that improves the fixation of the colostomy bag.
Sprays	Designed to facilitate replacement and removal of colostomy bag. The composition of the spray painlessly separates the adhesive base of the pouch.
Cleaners	Hygienic product for quick and effective cleaning of skin, feces, mucus and pus.
Protective film “second skin”	A hygienic liquid is applied to the skin, which easily evaporates, leaving behind a thin elastic film that protects the skin from maceration. Thanks to the specific base, the skin “breathes” and does not cause severe irritation.
Absorbent powders	Powders are used to prevent skin maceration. This powder is able to collect discharge, forming a layer of gel that protects the skin and improves the fixation of the colostomy bag.
Odor neutralizers	Special hygienic chemical reagents that transform the contents of the fecal sac into a gel, removing unpleasant odors.

Urinals

To collect urine, special hygienic devices are used - urinals, better known as “ducks”. They are widely used due to their ease of use. As a rule, reusable urine collection devices for bedridden patients are used, since they are easily sterilized.

Disposable urinals may differ in components:

one-component;
two-component;
three-component.

If a one-component urinal has only one bag for collecting discharge, then its “brothers” add a base with a removable bag and a drainage tube. Through such a drainage, it is easier and more comfortable to carry out hygiene for bedridden patients.

Important! Changing urine and colostomy bags must be done 10-15 minutes after emptying.

Diapers for adults

For many bedridden patients, either at home or in the hospital, the use of disposable diapers is one of the best solutions to the problem of urination and bowel movements, as well as a kind of protection from awkward situations. It is worth noting that in the absence of caregivers, such hygiene products for caring for bedridden people significantly simplify care.

Diapers for adult bedridden patients are usually made of special soft fabrics. They do not have an aggressive effect on the skin, are non-traumatic, hygienic and hypoallergenic. The air conductivity of the fabric is also important, since the “breathable” material does not cause irritation and diaper rash in humans. The outer layer has sufficient protection against moisture accumulating inside. The cellulose content should be as high as possible, since this is the basis of the absorbency of the diaper.

Urological pads

An alternative to using diapers can be urological pads for women and men. Such care products for bedridden people can be a convenient way out of a delicate situation if the use of diapers causes severe emotional discomfort.

Their main difference from conventional sanitary pads is the speed and volume of urine absorption. Because these pads instantly absorb moisture and provide a more secure hold, the threat of urine leakage is minimized. It is also worth noting that all urological pads are made of hypoallergenic materials, so itching and skin irritation do not occur.

Hygiene products for the prevention of bedsores

Bedsores are a specific complication of a patient’s bedridden lifestyle, in which blood and lymph circulation in tissues and muscles is disrupted. Bedsores remain one of the most serious problems in patient care, therefore, along with special anti-bedsore devices (pillows, circles), it is necessary to use hygiene products.

To minimize the risk of bedsores, the skin of a bedridden patient should be moderately dry and clean. The companies Menalind, Seni and Convin have proven themselves in the hygiene market, producing hygiene products for treating the skin of bedridden patients:

Hygienic wet wipes for bedridden patients delicately cleanse the skin and do not injure it.
Massage oils and moisturizing care products for bedridden patients intensively nourish the skin when it is excessively dry, and additionally stimulate blood circulation.
Hygienic cleansing foams replace soap and water, being more gentle on the skin. They clean it, remove odors, and do not irritate it, thus providing quality care.
Creams with zinc have proven themselves to be excellent in protecting against diaper rash and have thus gained great popularity among hygiene products for bedridden patients.

Proper hygiene of a bedridden patient is extremely important in general care. It not only gives the patient psychological comfort, but is also a preventive measure to prevent infectious processes.

Video

The need to care for a sick person who cannot get out of bed and needs the guardianship and care of family and friends always makes us think about the need to acquire some skills to help cope with this difficult problem. How to organize proper care using only your own strength? How to alleviate the suffering and worries of a loved one? How to care for a patient so that they do not form on the skin? What care products should you choose to avoid causing harm?

gentle skin cleansing;
effective and inflammatory reactions in the genital area, anus and in the natural folds of the skin;
therapeutic measures that promote skin restoration.

In our article we will introduce you to these important aspects of caring for bedridden patients, and this information can help you avoid mistakes in this difficult and important matter.

Hygiene procedures

Hygienic measures for patients who are forced to spend a long time in bed must be carried out in the morning and evening. Doctors recommend performing them before breakfast and before bed, since these are the time periods that are most favorable for performing such procedures.

To perform hygiene procedures, it is necessary to prepare the following hygiene products:

two basins for water;
inflatable bath for washing hair;
pelvis stand;
jug for heated water;
special cosmetics and devices for caring for bedridden patients: gels, foams, lotions, creams, foaming mittens and sponges (for example, Tena Wash, Seni Care, Menalind, etc.);
medical and cleaning gloves;
fabric and paper towels and napkins;
rubberized diapers and disposable oilcloths;
absorbent diapers;
cotton wool;
gauze napkins;
cotton buds;
special toothbrushes (if the patient cannot brush his teeth himself);
items for haircuts, manicures, pedicures and shaving;
male or female urinals;
colostomy bags;
circles, bolsters or mattresses for the prevention of bedsores.

If necessary, other hygiene products can be added to this list:

bibs for gentle feeding;
diapers;
urological and gynecological pads;
biotoilets;
shower chairs or bath seats and grab bars;
toilet chairs;
stoma care devices;
disposable underwear and bed linen, etc.

A doctor can help determine the need for certain products to care for a bedridden patient, since their range largely depends on the patient’s diagnosis.

Before starting skin cleansing procedures, it is necessary to eliminate all possible sources of drafts and make sure that the air temperature in the room is at least 20 degrees. Such precautions when caring for bedridden patients are never unnecessary, because as a result of illness, their immunity becomes weakened, and sharp temperature fluctuations can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases.

In what order should the procedures be carried out?

Before performing hygiene procedures, it is recommended to put on the first pair of medical gloves and protect the bedding with an absorbent or waterproof sheet and oilcloth. After this, the patient’s nightgown is removed and step-by-step hygiene procedures begin.

Stage 1 – caring for the patient’s oral cavity

If the patient’s condition allows, then he can be seated on a chair or his body can be given a semi-sitting position. If the patient cannot change the horizontal position of the body, then his head must be turned to the side and using cotton swabs (pagavit) to clean the cheek space from accumulated saliva and plaque. To facilitate oral hygiene procedures, you can use special disposable plastic spatulas, with which you can alternately and carefully move the left and right cheeks.

To clean the teeth of a sick person, you can follow the same rules as for brushing the teeth of a healthy person, but the movements of the toothbrush in such situations should be more gentle and performed with the utmost care.

After completing the procedure, it is necessary to rinse the patient’s mouth with water or a hygienic solution (special solutions for rinsing the mouth, solutions of soda, hydrogen peroxide, borax, etc.). To do this, you can use a rubber syringe and a soft tip or special rubber balloons for rinsing the patient’s mouth. When performing this procedure, the head must be slightly raised above the surface of the bed so that liquid does not enter the esophagus and respiratory tract.

A special approach is also recommended when choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste for caring for a bedridden patient. In most cases, in such patients, the oral mucosa becomes vulnerable and sensitive to the effects of hard bristles, and toothpaste should be selected in accordance with the age needs and characteristics of the patient’s diagnosis.

Remedies for bleeding gums

LACALUT aktiv;
LACALUT fitoformula;
Parodontax;
Parodontax F et al.

For patients with increased sensitivity of tooth enamel, the following toothpastes are recommended:

SPLAT;
LACALUT Extra Sensitive;
PRESIDENT Sensitive;
SILCA Complete Sensitive;
Oral-B Sensitive.

DIADENT series of toothpastes: DiaDent Regular, DiaDent Active;
PerioTherapy Healthy Gums Toothpaste.

For seriously ill children who are forced to lie down for a long time, it is recommended to choose toothpastes that are appropriate for their age and have the necessary properties that are determined by the diagnosis.

The duration of use of medicated toothpastes for seriously ill patients is determined individually, since some of their active components, with prolonged use, can have a negative effect on the health of the oral cavity. After using them, it is recommended to use hygienic toothpastes.

After completing this procedure, it is necessary to blot the patient’s lips with an absorbent napkin and apply hygienic lipstick or moisturizing balm to them, which prevents lips from drying out and cracking. The following means can be used for this:

EOS balm;
lip balm BABE Laboratorios SPF 20;
fatty oils: shea butter (shea butter), jojoba, cocoa, soy;
Hygienic lipstick “Morozko”.

When choosing such balms and hygienic balms, you should definitely make sure that they are hypoallergenic.

Stage 2 – washing

The following solutions can be used to wash the patient’s face:

Seni Care washing cream;
TENA Wash Cream;
EHAdes;
Menalind professional washing lotion;
Eleksi et al.

One of the above solutions is diluted in water and a sponge or hygroscopic glove is moistened in it. After this, they wipe the patient’s face, and then begin hygienic treatment of the eyes. It is recommended to use two moist cellulose disks for this procedure (a separate disk should be used for each eye). The movements should be directed from the outer corner of the eye to the inner.

You can use cotton swabs to clean the inside of your ears and ear canal. After this, using a damp sponge, it is necessary to clean the skin behind the ears, neck area, chest (including the folds under the chest), surfaces of the sides and the patient’s stomach. In parallel with these actions, the cleaned areas of the skin are blotted with a cloth that absorbs moisture well and covered with a towel (blanket) or clothes are put on the treated areas of the body.

After this, the patient is carefully turned onto his side and the back area is wiped with the same cleaning solution. The treated areas of skin are dried with a towel and one of the products to protect the skin from bedsores is applied to them:

Seni Care body gel;
Menalind professional protective cream with zinc;
Seni Care protective body cream with arginine;
protective body cream Seni Care zinc, etc.

In the absence of contraindications, after completing skin cleansing and applying skin care products, percussion massage is recommended.

Sometimes, to wash irritated areas of the patient’s skin, it is necessary to use special products that provide gentle cleansing of the skin. These include:

foam TENA Wash Mousse;
Seni Care foam, etc.

Step 3 – hand washing

To wash your hands, use the same detergent solution as to wash your body. Each hand of the patient is immersed in a basin with a washing solution and washed with a sponge or gloves. Close attention is paid to cleansing the areas of the interdigital space, since this is where a large number of pathogenic microorganisms often accumulate.

After washing, the hands are dried with a towel and a special care product is applied to the elbow area (as a rule, roughness is often observed on them) - Seni Care cream for dry and rough skin. After this, the patient’s nails are trimmed and filed with a special nail file. Next, nail care is carried out as they grow.

Stage 4 – changing diapers and hygiene of intimate areas

Before you begin cleansing this area of the body, you must change your gloves for new ones and prepare a new washing solution.

lay a waterproof diaper under the patient's pelvis (if the bed was not previously covered with a waterproof oilcloth with an absorbent sheet or absorbent sheet);
remove the diaper and wrap it in a bag;
put a washing mitt on your hand or take a special soft sponge to treat intimate areas;
moisten a mitten or sponge in the cleaning solution and wring it out;
spread the patient's legs and place them so that they bend at the knees and the heels are as close to the pelvis as possible;
treat the perineal area so that the movements of the sponge are directed from the pubis to the anus;
dry the perineal area with a soft towel (for this, only a specially designated towel or a disposable absorbent diaper can be used);
turn the patient on his side, wipe the body and dry the skin with a towel (special attention should be paid when drying natural folds);
apply a protector (protective foam or cream) to the skin;
take a clean diaper, unfold it, fold it lengthwise and carefully straighten the protective cuffs and fasteners;
put a diaper on the patient.

To treat the perineal area, you can use wet wipes for intimate hygiene or cleansing foams. To do this, you can purchase the following tools:

Seni Care or TENA Wet Wipe wet wipes;
Seni Care foam or TENA Wash Mousse.

Step 5 – washing feet

To wash your feet, you should prepare a new washing solution and change the sponge or washing mittens. The procedure is then performed in the following sequence:

wipe your feet with a sponge or washing mitten up to the ankle joint;
dry your feet with a towel
the patient's feet should be lowered into the basin and washed, paying close attention to the areas between the toes;
dry your feet with a towel;
turn the patient on his side and apply anti-bedsore products to the back of the legs;
place the patient on his back;
Trim your toenails and file their edges with a pedicure file.

After completing all stages of washing the patient, special products can be applied to the rough areas of the skin (for example, on the elbows, heels or knees) to effectively soften them - Seni Care cream for dry and rough skin. Completion of hygienic procedures should end with putting on a shirt, giving the body a comfortable position in bed and, if necessary, placing cushions or special inflatable rings to prevent bedsores. After this, the patient should be covered with a blanket. In some cases, after completing hygienic procedures, it is recommended to carry out therapeutic measures (for example: treatment, prevention, etc.).

All of the above stages of hygienic procedures for caring for a bedridden patient must be performed daily. Compliance with this rule always has a positive effect on the patient’s condition and has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, preventing the appearance of bedsores and the development of infectious complications.

Washing head

The patient's hair should be washed as soon as the hair gets dirty. To perform this procedure, you need to prepare the following supplies:

a basin for washing (for this it is more convenient to use special inflatable baths for washing your hair);
pelvis stand;
a jug of water at a comfortable temperature;
shampoo;
oilcloth;
towel;
comb;
scarf or cap.

The patient is placed on his back and a pillow is placed under the shoulders so that its upper edge is at shoulder level and the head is slightly thrown back. Roll a towel into a roll and place it under your neck. The head of the bed is covered with oilcloth, on which a basin of water is placed.