CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME
This is also called home nursing
Nursing is the act of looking after individuals by helping them do what they would otherwise do for themselves if they could.
A sick person in a patient who might feel insecure and require support of those around them. N/B: care takers need to be clam and confident to gain trust from patients.
Reasons for caring for the sick
- to enable her continue recovering at home after being discharged from hospital.
- To help a person who is not too ill to be admitted to hospital,
- Hospital beds may be fully occupied so incases like STDs/HIV patients are nursed at home to relieve the hospitals,
- Some people are never able to afford hospital charges,
- Hospitals are sometimes understaffed so patient don’t get good care so some people prefer to take care of their sick,
Meeting physical needs at home
Importance of meeting physical needs of a sick person at home are;
- keep patient clean,
- patient cloth should be clean
- keep their beddings clean, dry and smooth,
- ventilation of the patients room,
- always be kept fresh to prevent infections,
- should be kept warm if weather is hot patient should be in clothing ,
- grooming the sick all the rime e.g hair styling, manicure or pedicure to give the patient confident,
- cleaning the room being used for patient to be in a comfortable surrounding, NB: it shouldn’t be overcrowded to keep it free from pests,
- giving physical exercises if possible,
- bed ridden patients to be checked of bed sores,
CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME
NB: to prevent these sores
- massage hip and back muscles
- change positions frequently
- ensure beddings are dry
- administering medicines prescribed,
- being alert incase of serious changes that require the doctor, call doctor or take patient to hospital
Symptoms that may require doctor’s attention
- breathing difficulties
- unconsciousness
- vomiting that last more than 1 hour,
- fever that last more than 2 days depending on ways of bringing it down,
- severe backache or pain in any body part,
- deterioration of prevailing situation.
Meeting emotional needs of the sick patient needs emotional support because:
- reduces both physical and mental agony meeting these needs;
- assure the sick that all is well,
- involving them in interesting activities to reduce boredom,
- watching television, knitting and listening to music,
- avoiding worrying issues with her in their presence
- keep flowers in room to cheer them up.
Meeting the nutritional needs of the sick Good nutrition helps in promoting recovery.
Ways of meeting these needs;
- adhering to the diet prescribed by the doctor,
- giving a balanced diet unless the doctor has prescribed a special diet i.e proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. Food rich in roughage should be provided e.g fruits and veges and whole meals to prevent constipation,
- giving plenty of fluids,
- serving meals attractively and in small quantities to help patient maintain appetite,
- serving food in clean and sterilized utensils to prevent spread of infections, – it should be tender for easy chewing and swallowing, – one easily digestable/steamed but not fried.
- ensuring presence of loved ones and close friends to make them happy,
- not isolating the sick to avoid making them feel unwanted,
- keeping away people not liked by the sick since their presence depresses them and so may retard the healing,
CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME
Meeting the spiritual needs of the sick at home
Ways of meeting needs
- inviting spiritual intervention it causes one feel better, NB: patients wishes should always be respected.
Measures to prevent spread of infections
- the care taken should be clean i.e having clean protective clothing e.g gloves and a mask when attending to the sick,
- soaking the garments used by sick in disinfectant before washing,
- any repairs should be before laundry but after disinfecting
- clothes of the sick to be washed separately and disinfected by boiling/by strong disinfection,
- drying washed clothes outdoors because of fresh air and to expose in sun that can disinfect them,
- washing feeding equipment separately and disinfecting,
- protective clothing of the care taken to washed and disinfected separately from family wash,
- care taken to wash his/her hands frequently and the water should have a disinfectant,
- sick should be given tissue and handkerchief if possible since they are easy to dispose off,
- handling any blood/fluid stains while wearing gloves because they may have germs,
- patient should always be clean
- not allowing children and pets in the room of the sick,
CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME
ALL HOMESCIENCE NOTES FORM 1-4 WITH TOPICAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PRIMARY NOTES, SCHEMES OF WORK AND EXAMINATIONS
