Always wear GLOVES
Standard precautions are a must in the home health care world. Caregivers enter many homes sometimes on the same day with different infection with different clients. So the most important thing to do is washing our hands daily and after each interaction with any body fluids such as urine, blood, saliva and sweat.
Wearing gloves is so important with any personal care. Personal care can include but not limited to activities such as bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, feeding, cooking for the client, help with medication and transferring. The caregiver needs to change gloves with every activity change. Changing gloves when the gloves become wet or soiled as well. Gloves can not be washed or reused, just one of the many don’ts with the use of gloves.
Precautions are for the benefit Happy hand washing. and protection of the client and the caregiver.
Abuse of the Elderly & Disabled is a REAL thing.
What is neglect? Neglect occurs when basic needs are not meet for someone. This is not always intentional, sometimes the caregiver is not able to take care of the person or cant afford to care for them. Regardless of intention still must report the neglect. Not taking the person to the doctor, not providing food for the person or not keeping their home/ living space clean are just a few examples.
Self-neglect is defined as a vulnerable adult that puts his or her health, safety or well being at risk. This does not always happen on purpose and to be honest they usually don’t understand the danger they have put them selfs in. People do not want to loose their independence.
Abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional) generally involves more extreme forms of harm to the adult, including the infliction of pain, injury, mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or other cruel treatment. This is more prevalent with disabled adults that can not defend them self and do not know how to get help.
Financial Exploitation occurs when a caregiver uses money for things other then the needs and care of the disabled adult. The money is received from a government agency for the care of the adult such as social security .
If you feel that anyone is being abused, neglected, self- neglected or financial exploitation is happening to someone please call the hotline listed for Tennessee residents 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366) or look for the hotline in your state.
Some Days are Sad
Some days are sad is the truth. These wonderful people I care for where not always disabled and reliant on myself or other people to care for them so everyday is not great for them.
Having someone feed them, change their depends or go to the grocery store for them feels like loosing their independence. As their caregiver sometimes my duties are just to listen as they cry about what they have lost. Their ability to take care of themselves like ,using the bathroom alone, standing up or taking a bath alone.
I try to remind my clients that they have worked hard their whole life and it is now my job to help them. I also remind them there is no shame in asking for help. To be honest I just love them through the bad day and reassure them tomorrow will be better.
CareNotes
Some of the duties as a caregiver are charting or writing care notes.The company the caregiver is employed with will require documentation. They will want to know what you did all day such as I feed the client or helped to the restroom. It is also where you will note things such as the client not feeling well or skin break down.
The care notes are also given to the medical insurance company so the company you work for will get paid also.
The care note will also serve as a back up time sheet, proof you were at the clients home. The caregiver must clock in on a tablet or phone provided by the insurance company but we all know technology can fail. So the care note will make sure you get paid because the client signs the note as well.
Caregivers Care Podcast1
Blueberries, water and red wine!
Eating a balanced and healthy diet can be fun. As we get older our diet becomes even more important. Some medical disorders such as high blood pressure or diabetes have do’s and don’ts so please listen to your doctor. Here are 10 foods to keep you healthy per Webb MD.
- Water – our bodies are mostly made of water and need more everyday.
- Blueberries– are packed with various antioxidants. (antioxidants — things like vitamin C and vitamin E — keep your cells healthy)
- Fiber– helps with your digestive health and ease constipation.
- Fatty fish– heart healthy
- Olive oil– can use instead of butter and is way healthier
- Yogurt– helps with bone health
- Tomatoes– foods high in lycopene, a natural chemical, can help protect you against prostate cancer and may help prevent lung cancer
- Red Wine – Alcohol may help lower “bad” cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and ease your blood pressure. Of course you have to drink responsible.
- Broccoli– high in fiber with plenty of vitamins and antioxidants.
- Nuts– full of omega-3s, fiber and protein.
What is Caregivers Care?
The caregiver would be defined differently for different people. For me caregiver means loving someone even when they are your client, cooking for them, taking out their trash, helping them on the potty or emptying a catheter bag. As a caregiver, you enter the client’s home with an open heart to make the client’s day easier. For more about the author, click on the green circle to find the About page.
So Clean and Fresh
How to give a good bed bath to someone is what I am gonna write about today. Some would say it is the best part of the client’s day. Many clients do not have a bathroom to accommodate their physical ailments so they can not just go take a bath like most people. There are a few steps to helping a client have a great bath right in the comfort of their bed.
The First step is gathering all the supplies the caregiver will need to help the client with a bed bath. Clean towels, clean wash rags, two tubs for the water, body soap, lotion, clothes to put on after the bath and any specialty items the client may request such as powder or zinc cream. Each client will have different soaps, lotion, and powders so the caregiver should ask the client before gathering the supplies.
Place some dry towels under the client to protect their bad from getting wet. Try to keep the client covered with another towel while you bath them. Fill both tubs with warm water not too hot or cold. Undress the patient carefully to begin. Wet the washrag and put soap on it. Always bath from the top of the body to the bottom.
When washing the genital area go front to back. Make fresh weather for this area and rinse very well also. The second tub of water should be used to rinse the whole body. Dry the client with a dry towel. Now start applying lotion, deodorant and any other items the client would like.
The final step will be dressing the client. Underclothing will be first and then socks to warm them up. Next to their outer clothes such as a shirt, shorts, pants or skirts. You have now made the client’s day start on a bright note.
Lifting Techniques
Some general guidelines to follow when you lift or move a person include:
- Keep your head and neck in proper alignment with your spine.
- Maintain the natural curve of your spine; do not bend at your waist.
- Avoid twisting your body when carrying a person.
- Always keep the person who is being moved close to your body.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart to maintain your balance.
- Use the muscles in your legs to lift and/or pull.
If moving a client feels unsafe, DON’T. Ask for help from another caregiver to ensure the safety of the client and yourself.
When moving a client to a wheelchair from a bed or toilet pull the chair as close as possible, remember to lock the wheels. Spread your legs apart, bend your knees and get a stronghold around the client. Stay calm and talk to the client as you guiding them to there chair.
YouTube has several videos that you can watch to get a good tutorial all you have to do is search for proper lifting.
If you feel that you have hurt yourself or the client is injured call 911 and then the company that you are employed with.
Caregivers CARE 