15.09.2020

Comfort of care

Looking after an ill person requires a lot of energy, especially if they are immobile or bedridden. You should organize the space around you to eliminate possible obstacles. Avoid injuring yourself when you carry out your routine. Take care to not strain your back or muscles when providing care. Use tools that can help you and make your work more efficient.

A few words of advice on how to ensure comfort of care for you and your loved one::

• If the person you look after is partially independent, ensure that they have easy toilet access or put a commode next to the bed. If the person is bedridden, make sure you have easy access to the bed. Depending on whether your loved one requires the use of briefs, uses a urinal/bed pan, or is catheterized, make sure you have all the necessary accessories at hand.
• Use dedicated skin care products to look after your loved one’s skin as they are specially designed to keep it in good condition. If you look after the skin properly, you can avoid difficult conditions. Bedridden people are especially at risk for skin issues. Proper skin care will make your loved one feel more comfortable, fresh, and generally better.
• Use cleansing skin care products that don’t require water such as Seni Care Washcloths or Cleansing Cream. These products can be used to quickly clean the skin without the risk of the bed getting wet.
• Using disposable hygienic products such as wash gloves, towels, etc. will make caring for the skin easier.
• Follow the rules of safe transfer when moving your loved one about. You will avoid strains and injuries for you both.
• Invest in special care equipment if at all financially possible. You can also rent equipment from medical shops. These aids include commodes, crutches, wheelchairs, walking frames, hoists, hospital-type beds or slip mats used to help you move your loved one on the bed.
• Try to obtain an anti-bedsore mattress. If the person you look after spends most of their time in bed, this will help prevent bedsores from developing.
• Use soft bedclothes and dress your loved one in clothing made of natural materials. This will prevent skin irritation which can develop into painful dermatitis, or in the case of bedridden people, bedsores. Natural materials prevent overheating, causing the person wearing them to sweat less. This significantly improves their wellbeing.

Learn more about Seni Care skin care products that make looking after your loved one’s skin easier. 

You can find out more information about looking after your loved one in the Practical advice section.