We understand the demand to offer a professional service level of nursing along with affordable fees. Here are common mistakes for caregivers and how to avoid them.
Failing to Assist with Activities of Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is a healthcare term used to denote the simple tasks a person regularly needs for independent living in a home or the community. ADL covers:
- Basic Cleaning
- Dressing
- Meals
- Toileting
- Basic Exercise
- Shifting a patient securely
Failing to Assist with Personal Hygiene
To maintain personal hygiene, you may assist patients with the following:
- Rinse their hands upon trips to the bathroom
- Rinse their lower body parts daily
- Rinse their faces each day
- Get a shower or bath
- Brush their teeth daily
- Cut their nails for better hygiene
Failing to Assist Patients with Bathing
For many people, bathing remains a rather personal routine. To render bathing cozy for the patient you’re assisting, you may initiate a regular shower routine and keep habits with the following:
- Timing of the bath
- The warmth of shower water
- Brand and version of bathing soap
- Style of rinsing
- You might attempt to instruct on the steps slowly and carefully as you proceed and stay alert to the patient’s emotions.
You can give some bed baths or towel baths for patients confined to bed owing to health issues. Read further on ways to assist patients with rinsing for Activities of Daily Living.
Failing to Assist with Dressing
Upon assisting patients wearing clothes, you may interview them about how they want to get dressed or give them the level of independence that you consider secure.
Assisting patients with dressing may be rendered less challenging with a routine. Make some efforts to:
- Arrange the dressing in order before dressing
- Dress the patient when they sit down
- Get baggy clothes that are not difficult to wear (e.g., clothes with elastic bands, Velcro belts, and front zips)
- Get brassieres that close and open from the front
- Start dressing from the person’s weaker side
- Apply a gown with zips in the back to dress a patient confined in bed. This will render it easier to apply the bedpans or urinals.
Failing to Assist with Meals
When you’re the caregiver, attempt to ensure that the patient you look after dines or drinks adequately. Food may be eaten in unison with the family when it is not distressing for the patient you care for.
To assist patients with dining, you might:
- Allocate 30 to 45 minutes for dining
- Arrange food in an introductory manner
- Ensure that all food is ready for dining and close by
- Set up cozy tables and chairs
- Cut down noise from the television or radio to prevent irritation
- Assist the patient in sitting up erect over the meal and a minimum of 30 minutes following the meal
Fail to Feed Patients in Bed
If you assist with feeding patients in bed, you might attempt to:
- Prop the patient’s head higher with cushions
- Set up bed tables
- Slice the meals into small servings
- Fill the mugs with beverages for mid-levels
- Get the patient to grip the cup when they might do so
Failing to Assist with Toileting
You might assist the elders, based upon their demands, with some duties like:
- Using the toilet cistern
- Toileting from the bed
- Applying a Bedpan or Urinal
