St. Bernardine Care Providers contribute to the care of the elderly and Hospice care in the High Desert, Apple Valley, Victorville, and Hesperia area. It is extremely important while providing home health care for an elderly patient to help them maintain or regain good health especially after an illness.
Physical Activity
As we all know, exercise is important and should be part of our daily routine. Physical activity can help improve your physical health, mental health, it increases strength (which helps prevent falls), exercise also improves sleep and moods.
Understandably, when health care providers are caring for an elderly person who is recovering from an illness, you really can’t take them for a stroll around the block. If possible have the patient get up and walk a short distance around their home every hour, it may not seem like much, but it is doing them a world of good. That short walk around the house several times a day will help their circulation, prevent bedsores, help them sleep better and possible even put them in a better mood.
Elderly patients that are healthy may enjoy a nice slow walk around the neighborhood or the local park. If that does not appeal to them maybe starting or working in the garden, if the weather is nice the fresh air will do them wonders as well. During the cooler months perhaps they would like to walk around the shopping mall. There are usually plenty of seats throughout a mall for them to stop and rest.
As always make sure you contact St. Bernardine Care Providers and make sure their doctor has approved the patient for physical activities such as walking.
Good Nutrition
Often times, seniors and hospice patients do not have a nutritious diet. As their care provider, you may have a diet you must follow, or you may have free range of the patients diet. If you have the ability to prepare, their meals and snacks make sure they are healthy ones.
Always check and make sure they do not have any food allergies first, this is something a lot of health care providers forget.
When preparing their meals follow the foods recommendations from the USDA food pyramid guidelines. Many elderly people do not have large appetites anymore, so make small amounts of each of the food items you will be serving them. Smaller meals spaced 3-4 hours apart is best for their digestive system. Also, if they are still hungry, you can always give them a little more of whatever part of the meal they want or a healthy snack to fill them up.
Make The Home Safe
Make sure there are clear paths for the patient to be able to move around their home freely. Throw rugs should be taped (double sided) to the floor, so they don’t move. Make sure to change any light bulbs including night lights as soon as they blow. Making the home safe will prevent falls and injuries.
St. Bernardine Care Providers want to make sure the patients are as healthy and safe as possible. Allowing the family members to worry less.
