How to Provide Patient Care at Home

Most likely you are caring for a loved one at home after his hospital stay. As each person is different, each patient you care for at home has different needs. Much depends on what disabilities he has when he returns home. Successfully caring for him at home is achieved with a good discharge plan from the hospital. Also have the necessary modifications to your home in place so the patient care can be as easy as possible. You need adequate education on caregiving. In addition, use professional caregivers as needed, and have the right supplies for the job.

Things You'll Need

• Hospital bed
• Raised toilet seat
• Grab bar
• Shower chair
• Reacher
• Gait belt

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Instructions

• 1

  Follow a a daily routine. Caring for a patient at home is much easier if you have a routine you follow each day. There may be days when this is not possible.

• 2

  Help your patient get out of bed in the morning in the appropriate manner. You should have the proper tools to help with this task. Having sturdy side rails on the bed allows the patient to pull himself up in many cases. Using a gait belt will make it easier for you to help stand your patient up.

• 3

  Bring your loved one to the bathroom so he can use the toilet. Have your patient use grab bars and a raised toilet seat to make sitting on the toilet easier.

• 4

  Help the patient groom himself. Have him use any specially recommended supplies for this process.

• 5

  Dress your patient. Let him do as much as possible, which is easier on you and better for him. Give him the adaptive equipment he needs.

• 6

  Make breakfast together. Make easy-to-prepare foods.

• 7

  Clean up the kitchen.

• 8

  Help the patient engage in a mind-stimulating activity. He may like to read, do a crossword puzzle, knit or do something else that interests him.

• 9

  Make lunch together. Have Meals on Wheels come to your home if cooking lunch together is too difficult.

• 10

  Help the patient go to the bathroom.

• 11

  Provide your patient with more mind-stimulating activities for the afternoon.

• 12

  Put the patient in for a nap if he is tired.

• 13

  Make supper together.

• 14

  Clean up.

• 15

  Watch television together, or play a mutually enjoyed game.

• 16

  Get your loved one ready for bed.

• 17

  Put the patient to bed.