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Part of caregiving is providing physical care to your family member or friend. It is important that the caregiver receive appropriate training to provide physical care.
- How do you care for a family member or friend when they are very sick?
- How do you care for a family member or friend when they are dying?
- How do you know what to do for their pain?
- How do you know what to do with their medication?
Ask your family member or friend's doctor, nurses, and other health professionals about the types of care that may be required of you. To help you and your family and friend’s health care providers, we suggest keeping a log of medications and reactions, physical therapy and other treatments and all physical symptoms such as pain or tiredness.
Some important questions to ask the health care team (doctor or nurse) about providing physical care:
- Lifting and Moving : Ask about proper techniques. How can I protect my back while lifting and moving my uncle?
- Bedpans : Ask about the proper techniques for using and sanitizing. How do I help my mother use a bedpan and how do I sanitize it?
- Pressure Ulcers : Ask about avoiding this health hazard. How can I prevent my father from getting pressure ulcers or bed sores?
- Incontinence : Ask about protecting the patient from discomfort. How can I help my sister with her incontinence or bed wetting?
- Skin Care : Ask about maintaining cleanliness and preventing dryness. How can I help my brother take care of his skin so that it is clean and doesn’t become dry?
Additional physical care tips
If possible, have someone help you with the morning and bedtime routines , if your family member or friend needs a lot of assistance, since getting up and going to bed often are the most challenging times of the day.
Practice good oral hygiene that includes tooth brushing, denture cleaning, and cleaning around the gums, preferably after every meal. Good oral hygiene helps to prevent tooth decay, tooth loss and gum diseases, as well as secondary infections that can result from poor dental care. Persons with disabilities or medical problems may need special care in addition to daily hygiene routines.
If your family member or friend is disabled, has poor eyesight or problems with memory, you may need to remind them about personal hygiene and/or assist them. If your family member or friend is incontinent, it is especially important to ensure that he or she is clean at all times, to use protective (barrier) creams, and to change incontinence aids and clothing as often as needed. Poor hygiene can result in diaper rash and blistering of the skin. Poor hygiene also can contribute to the development of decubitus ulcers (pressure sores) and other problems that cause pain, discomfort and serious, even life-threatening infections. In older women, tight fitting clothing and diapers can lead to yeast infections.
Older persons with limited movement should be turned in bed on a regular basis to prevent pressure sores. Correct bedding, such as sheepskin or egg carton bed coverings and/or an air mattress, helps to prevent pressure sores. It is important to move older persons with disabilities at least once an hour, even if it just to reposition them, to do range of motion exercises, and to have them sit in various chairs that offer sufficient support.
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