Aging can be a physically tedious process for many elderly patients. Due to illness or surgery, elderly people face mobility issues. These mobility issues restrict the movement of elderly people, and they need special care and treatment from the nursing services at home. The mobility issues can be short-term or permanent; depending on the nature and extent of the mobility restriction, the type of care and treatment should be provided to the elderly patient.
While tending to elderly patients with mobility issues, caregivers providing nursing services at home must pay special attention to certain aspects of their well-being and ensure no further accidents occur, thereby causing more injuries to the elderly person.
Elderly people with severe mobility issues need assistance to perform their daily chores. They also require encouragement and words of positivity so that they do not consider themselves a burden on their families or their caregivers.
At Anvayaa, our caregivers and nurses ensure that special care and attention is provided for the speedy recovery and comfortable living of elderly patients with mobility issues by keeping in mind the following things
1) Reorganize the house
Caregivers providing nursing services at home to patients with severe mobility issues, especially after surgery, must ensure that the house is properly reorganized. There should be adequate space to move the wheelchair around. Furniture with sharp edges must be removed or replaced to prevent unforeseen injuries.
2) Changing the bathroom setup
Many households in India still prefer the Indian toilet style, but when you have an elderly patient with mobility issues, it could pose a difficulty for them.
It is tedious for the caregiver to ensure that the patient can sit correctly on an Indian-style toilet. There is also the danger of slipping and falling from the toilet due to loss of balance.
Hence, installing a Western-style toilet in the bathroom or using portable toilet pots for elderly patients with mobility issues is preferable.
3) Keep everything within their reach
Caregivers providing nursing services at home to elderly patients with mobility issues must ensure that they have accessibility to necessities in their room in case no one is present at home. Medicines, asthma pumps, food, and water should be kept within the reach of the patient. Emergency numbers should be on the speed dial, and the patient must be taught how to use them in dire circumstances.
4) Accident proofing the house
It is important not only to reorganize the house for better accessibility of the elderly patient with mobility issues but also ensure that no accident occurs.
Caregivers and nurses must ensure that the floors of the house and the bathroom are dry to prevent any accidental slipping. In case of any water or oil spill, it should be cleaned immediately and let the surface dry for some time.
Special care should also be taken to ensure that no wire is left loose on the floor or hanging from the walls as the patient might trip on it or get electrocuted.
5) Encouraging exercising
Caregivers and nurses should be in constant touch with the physiotherapist and schedule regular appointments to ensure that the patient participates in the sessions and follows the exercise routines at home.
Encouraging exercises are beneficial for elderly patients as they strengthen bones and muscles. Physical activity brings steadiness to the body.
While walking or exercising, the caregiver and nurse must provide adequate support to the elderly patient.
6) Motivation to pursue an interest
Often elderly patients with mobility issues lose interest in life as they cannot move or are dependent on their caregivers. Nurses and caregivers should motivate elderly people to pursue hobbies and not be idle. Having a hobby or passion will drive purpose into the life of the elderly patient. They will want to push themselves forward for recovery
7) Ensure that they are not cooped inside the house
Caregivers and nurses must also ensure that elderly patients with mobility issues stay cooped inside the house. Always staying inside is harmful to their mental health as they tend to show signs of depression and irritability. This impacts their will to live and recover. Elderly patients with mobility issues must be taken out for a stroll in the park to absorb fresh sunlight and air to rejuvenate their mood.
8) The condition of the patient must be explained to other members of the household
As the caregivers providing nursing services at home make adjustments and changes, the other family members must also understand the gravity of the situation so that they can be mentally prepared and ensure they follow all safety procedures in the house.
Domestic help and cooks need to ensure that food is prepared on time and bathrooms are cleaned regularly and kept dry.
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