caring for the elderly
who are sick and unable to take care of themselves
Of course, family members will have to put both physically and mentally on caring for the elderly.
lest you will not be comfortable in various aspects
When back at home , this week's
"Health Friday"
column has some advice for relatives or caregivers.
Here are some suggestions for caring for the elderly who are unable to take care of themselves
:
1. Positive Thinking
For the care of the sick, it is important to reduce the stress on the caregivers.
Relatives and patients themselves, for example, in reality, no one can avoid getting sick.
Taking care of each other is good.
to show love
great gratitude
Illness was not anyone's fault.
There is still hope tomorrow
Hope to be better today
Create a sense of humor about the problems you are facing.
2. Schedule daily patient activities.
3. There should be a record book to record about the patient or write down questions to ask the doctor.
4. Provide the patient's living environment to be safe, clean and well-ventilated.
5. Expectation of Opportunity
Patient prospects are important information that relatives or caregivers should ask the treating physician.
should ask to understand
and expect the level that the doctor recommends
It is possible to seek information from doctors in the same field for a second or third opinion.
6. View problems as challenges
and learning new things
7. You should know how to relax your own emotions.
Should not be in a state of stress, irritability, anger, because caring for a brain disease patient is a job that requires a lot of patience.
Relatives or caregivers must find their own free time each day.
Adequate rest will improve the quality of patient care.
Preparing questions when visiting the doctor
is the right thing to do
Because doctors can't know if there's another good thing going on at home.
related to the patient's symptoms
or if relatives/carers still do not understand or have questions while caring for the patient at home
You can ask as follows:
1. What is the patient? Diagnosis What is the cause?
severity and nature of the disease
2. Treatment guidelines
What are the ways?
if surgery is needed
How will the patient be?
What are the risks?
3. What situations should relatives/carers be prepared to deal with in relation to the patient's condition?
4. How to prevent the patient's symptoms from recurring or becoming severe?
5. What are the medications that must be taken?
How long do you need to use the drug?
What are the symptoms if allergic to drugs?
And what is the first thing to do when allergic to drugs?
6. What are the symptoms?
that must immediately take the patient to the hospital
7. If the patient needs to be hospitalized
How long will it take?
When will I be able to go home?
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Resources
Guidelines for caring for the elderly who are sick and unable to help themselves
For the general public by
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sorayut Chamnanwet,
Department of Surgery
Faculty of Medicine
Ramathibodi Hospital
Mahidol University