Topics Related to Older Paitent

Following listed are ideas and suggestions we have tried, these options can change with persons. So implementing and trying out the following listed ideas are on your own risk and we would always recommend you to check with the doctor, if you feel it's better to do so.

Refusing to Wear Diaper

Explaining the importance of Wearing it :

The first option is to explain to them importance of wearing a Diaper, but before you start explaining you must make sure they are calm to listen on what you are saying. You can start with explaining to them on the need to wear diaper and what happens if they don't wear a diaper. Explain to them in words that are not very difficult to listen, also do explain the consequence like infections, getting admitted in hospital due to sickness created and the living area getting dirty which will make things uncomfortable for them. Once you have explained it give them sometime to absorb and understand, also in some cases they would be willing to wear it, but after they start to go through the uncomfortable situation they might accept to wear a diaper.

Comfort-ability :

Making diaper comfortable for them to wear is an important part. One of the important factor that affects is the temperature around them. If the temperature is higher, wearing a diaper makes them feel uncomfortable because of the heat, but if you can keep the temperature around them lower they would not feel the itchiness and the heat created by the diaper when they are wearing it. Also, make sure when you put diaper on them it's placed correctly and fits them correctly.

Removing diaper when they feel like want to poo or urinate

This is one of the important issue that we came across. When they want to urinate or go for a stool (poop), they would remove the diaper similar to the habit of removing their underwear before urination or going for a stool (poop).

To deal with this situation, explaining to them can help for some people, other options would be, if you can make them go for stool before going to bed, because mostly this situation happens during night. In case of day, you can monitor them and when they try to remove it, you can stop it even holding them physically.

Other option which we followed is to tie a thin string made of plastic around the waist on top of the diaper (not too tight). But this can be done on your own risk. We would not recommend this, but we tried it, and stopped doing this, because of other risks involved.

They Don't want to take medication

In general when they are new to taking medications or if there is more number of medications to swallow they would not like to take medicines and there can be other reasons too like people in general who don't like to take medications.

Following are the solutions that we adopted, if it helps you that would be great:

1. Split the number of medicines into 2 or 3 parts if the quantity of medication that needs to be taken is more. This would generally make them feel that they are not taking more number of medications. e.g. For the morning medication if there is 8 capsules to be taken, split it into 3, 3 and 2 capsules and give first 3 when having tea or coffee in morning, next 3 just before morning soup and the next 2 after breakfast during tea or water.
2. Take the capsules or medication that doesn't have strong odour and powder it and mix part by part with the drinks or the food that they consume and the medications that has strong order you can request them to have it or you can mix it with drinks or food appropriately similar to the odour, so they would consume it without doubting it.
3. Consult with the doctor to get some suggestions or to change medications which would make it easier for them to have it.
   
   
   

They don't want to take any food

Taking food is an important part for a patient to regain health and strength. Following are the ways we tried to adopt and hope this helps.

1. Choose foods they like the most to start with, if they are not ready to have food.
2. Give food they like in small quantities, but multiple times. e.g. you can split morning breakfast into 3 small portions but try to give different kind of time in this 3 portions. To explain more 2 eggs as first portion, chicken soup in second portion and as 3 portion small quantity of breakfast.
3. Consult with your doctor they should be also able to explain on why this is happening and how to overcome it, also doctor can change your medication which helps to overcome this issue.
4. You can explain to the patient on the importance of having food which would help him to get healthier and stronger and to overcome the sickness. Also, you can speak to them about food which they used to like and it also taste good which can also improve their appetite.
5. In some cases you can give them a day time, so they get a bit hungry and you can offer them some nice food they like on the appropriate time.
   
   
   

Getting upset or angry when distured in sleep or when you want the paitent to waked up

When you would want to wake them up, but they are not happy being disturbed, following listed options can be adopted.

1. Don't wake them up straight away, but slightly disturb them initially and see how they respond and make the process of waking up slowly.
2. You may try to have a conversation with somebody standing near their bed, not too close, so they can listen to it and they may get interested in getting up.
3. Before they go to bed, explain them about the importance of an event that is happening, so they would have to wake up.
   
   
   

They want to have a wash everyday

1. When the patient is not able to move much you can make them use of wheelchair an move them around. Some people would like to have a bath or shower everyday which is normal. In my dad's case he cannot have a bath because he had a permcath attached in this chest which would get infected if he takes a bath. So would give a hot water wipe with towel twice a week. Frequency depends on the need.
2. If the person is slightly mobile or can use the wheelchair you should be able to take them to the washroom/bathroom and give them a wash.
   
   
   

Want to go out everyday

This mostly happens when the person is an outgoing person. When they are confined into a small space they would always want to go out everyday. The only option what we managed is to take the person out once in 2 to 3 days and also engage the person in other activities they are generally interested.

To keep them engaged and make feel them they are useful and important

When one of your loved ones become sick and bedridden the most important part is to make them feel they are useful and important. The best options are the following

1. Assign them some work which they normally do, so they keep them-self engaged and active.
2. Speak to the more often explaining what's going on with regards to events or activities they might be interested and also ask them for suggestions, which may keep them engaged.
3. If they are interested in watching TV, movies you could let them do so.
   
   
   

Dressing them up nice when taking them out

Dressing them up when going out is also an important part which could make them feel good. But, this mostly depends on the person. In some case they like to be more part of a discussion and you would have let them do so and deal with the discussion appropriately make them feel good.