client

Life is still crazy

Covid-19 is still here along with all the mandates and changes. Working during this time has been a struggle for me.

I try to keep a good attitude and help my clients feel safe. I work hard to make the day seem as normal as possible.

Every morning I get to work at 8 a.m. and start my daily task such as dishes, sweeping, vacuuming and taking care of her cats while she sleeps in. After she wakes up it’s time to make breakfast. I try to make sure her meal has some fruit and is placed on the plate nicely.

Always time for a little T.V. and chatting about anything from her evening, the weather, or what her cats have been up to. By the way, her two cats are great and make my client smile on a daily basis.

We avoid the news and just move forward with bath time and getting up with the help of a Hoyer lift.

We finish our day with Let’s Make A Deal with Wayne Brady, she loves this show.

As I leave I hope that I have brightened her day just a little with a joke or picking a curtain on the big deal. Knowing that tomorrow I will be back to do it again.

Image found on Google.

Fresh AIR and a few steps make the day better.

While everyone is quarantined during the COVID-19 medical pandemic I have been helping my clients get a little exercise safely by taking small walks outside.

As we all enter the new normal of stuck at home and not being able to go anywhere some of my clients have started getting bored and sore from less activity. So I have been going outside on these beautiful days and walking around in their yard or down the road while keeping a healthy distance to protect them.

Stop and smell the flowers, picture provided by goggle

Seniors gain many benefits from walking here is a small list:

  • Improves heart health. For seniors, walking offers numerous heart health benefits. Getting your heart rate up daily leads to a reduction in the risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and even coronary heart disease.
  • Lowers blood sugar. After eating, taking a 15-minute walk has been shown to reduce the after-eating spike in blood sugar some seniors can experience. Your body is using blood sugar more effectively to strengthen muscles, and insulin works better, too.
  • Reduces pain. Studies have shown that walking helps reduce some pain due to chronic conditions like arthritis. Some seniors experience lower back pain, and walking even just three times a week for around 20 minutes can help strengthen abdominal and back muscles to decrease chronic back pain.
  • Low participation cost. After you’ve invested in a good, sturdy pair of shoes, you can walk basically anywhere- for free! When the weather permits, head to the park for a stroll on the path or simply walk around your neighborhood. If it’s too cold or rainy to go outside, head to a shopping mall instead.
  • Promotes social engagement. Walking offers an easy way for seniors to meet up with others, whether you join a walking group with friends or simply engage with neighbors while out on your daily walk. You can meet new people and enjoy your environment each day.
  • Boosts mental health. A daily walk can help you feel more positive about life. The endorphins released during physical activity create a sense of well-being, reduce anxiety and boost your mood.

Companionship

The best part of my job is companionship. My clients are kind people that are alone or may have very little natural support,so they count on me to show up. However some of my job is not cleaning or bathing ,its just being there .

Some of the times I have enjoyed the most are when I was watching Hallmark movies with a sweet lady that enjoys my company. We pop some popcorn and then find a wonderful movie. My favorite movie so far was called Winter’s Castle. A hotel made of ice with a wonderful love story.

Taking walks with clients is a great exercise activity for them but its bigger then that for me. Talking with the clients about the weather or their day means so much. I enjoy the stories they share with me.

Take the extra time to share some of you with the client and listen as they talk to you even if it is just about a movie.

Winter’s Castle photo provided by Hallmark

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.

Photo provided by Minnesota Dept of Health

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.

I am not UNSKILLED, I am just skilled with love for amazing people.

So Clean and Fresh

Fresh Towels and a great bath soap help my clients feel and smell amazing.

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.

An example of skilled lifting of a client. Photo provided by Google.