A person is bedridden due to age-related diseases, serious pathologies or injuries. In any case, he needs special care, including daily hygiene procedures.
What hygiene products for bedridden patients should always be in stock and how to choose the most effective?
Essentials
Many, due to over-employment, hire carers to care for sick relatives. Those who have the opportunity to devote themselves to caring for a helpless person, master the specifics of this work on their own.
In both cases, it does not hurt to compile a list of necessary accessories that make the patient's life as comfortable as possible, and caring for him - as efficient and as easy as possible.
The list of hygienic care products for bedridden patients (both men and women) should include the following types of medical products:
- Absorbent disposable sheets and diapers.
- Detergents for face, body and hair.
- Cotton swabs and sticks.
- Wet wipes.
- Disposable towels.
- Means for nourishing and protecting the skin.
- Anti-decubitus drugs.
- Diapers for adult bedridden patients.
- Shaving and manicure accessories.
- Disposable gloves.
Modern effective hygiene products for bedridden patients in Russia are represented by a worthy assortment of commodity items. However, it does not hurt to find out when and in what sequence hygienic measures are taken to care for a bedridden patient.
Frequency and procedure
Specialists of the patronage centers recommend conducting hygiene procedures 2 times a day: in the morning before feeding the patient and in the evening after dinner.
In medical institutions and at home, the necessary manipulations using modern means of caring for seriously ill patients are carried out in the following order:
- oral hygiene;
- face and body wash;
- hand washing;
- intimate hygiene;
- washing feet.
The hair of people bedridden is usually washed no more than 1 time per week. The nails on the arms and legs are trimmed as they grow back. Auricles and ear canals are also recommended to be cleaned daily. For face and body hygiene, it is better to use special detergent compositions and agents that prevent the development of soft tissue necrosis.
All manipulations are made only in disposable gloves.
Oral Care
Every immobilized person needs daily treatment of the oral cavity, even if he eats through a tube. For an effective procedure, you will need to purchase:
- cotton swabs or disposable spatulas to clean the inside of the cheeks;
- a soft toothbrush or a set of disposable brushes;
- toothpaste for sensitive gums;
- a syringe with a soft nose, if a person cannot rinse his mouth;
- absorbent wipes;
- cosmetic petroleum jelly or moisturizing lip balm.
If possible, it is better to buy disposable brushes that already have toothpaste, for example, Sherbet. This is a very convenient hygiene product for bedridden patients, because such a brush can be used to brush your teeth without using water, which is especially important when a person cannot be put on a bed.
Means for washing the face, ear and nose
For morning and evening washing you need a small plastic basin with water, a soft sponge and a towel.
The mucous membrane of the nose can dry out in all people, but severe patients often are not able to blow their nose and release the nasal passages from the formed crusts. Therefore, you need to use cotton buds, petroleum jelly or apricot oil.
The auricles and the scalp around them are wiped with wet wipes. To do this, it is better to choose products of proven brands, for example:
- Cleanic Antibacterial;
- Menalind Professional;
- Seni Care;
- White Whale;
- "Medical Klins".
The auditory canals are cleaned very carefully with a cotton swab. Periodically, the procedure is carried out using 3% hydrogen peroxide. This will prevent the accumulation of sulfur and the formation of plugs.
Means for washing hair
What are the features of bedridden care? Hygiene products that keep your hair and scalp clean? In reality, the procedure itself is not as complicated as it seems.
Severely bedridden people are usually cut short. However, due to the stillness, their hair gets dirty quite quickly. To wash your hair you will need to purchase an inflatable bath with a drain hose and shampoo. When choosing a detergent composition, it is worth giving preference to products with a neutral Ph level, which does not dry the skin.
Also on sale there are special products that do not need to be washed off with water. They are often used for patients who are categorically not willing to wash their hair. Such products are produced in the form of lotions, shampoos and caps. Look for "No water" on the packaging. These compounds cleanse and nourish the scalp well, after the procedure you only need to pat your hair dry with a towel.
Body Hygiene
After washing the face, they proceed to the processing of the body. People bedridden inevitably impaired blood circulation, excessive sensitivity and dryness of the skin appear. Therefore, ordinary alkaline soap does not work, you need to use special detergents for bedridden patients, which have important features:
- do not contain alcohol;
- have a neutral Ph level (5.5);
- have a mild cleansing effect;
- moisturize, nourish and protect the skin;
- do not cause allergies;
- do not have strong flavors.
Daily hygiene procedures are greatly simplified if you purchase a 3 in 1 cleansing, emollient and protective effect. They do not need to be washed off with water, it is enough just to get your body wet with a towel.
The manufacturer of the best hygiene products for bedridden patients is considered TENA, the Swedish brand founded in 1929 with production facilities in many countries of Europe and Asia. Their product line has a very effective cleaning foam 3 in 1 and cream 3 in 1. These products fully meet the above requirements, as well as neutralize unpleasant odors, give a person in a helpless state a feeling of freshness and cleanliness.
Since body hygiene is the most important measure in the care of bedridden patients, it is worth mentioning the products of other manufacturers.
Cleansing, moisturizing, protection
When choosing a means for washing the body of a bed patient, you should pay attention to the following headings:
- Menalind Cleansing Foam;
- No-Rinse Body Wash;
- Healing Derm Lotion;
- washing cream Seni 3 in 1;
- disposable gloves, such as CV Medica, impregnated with a foaming gel.
All these hygiene products for the care of bedridden patients gently and carefully cleanse the skin and do not need to be washed off. When washing an immobilized person, special attention is paid to the interdigital spaces on the arms and legs, where a large number of pathogenic bacteria accumulate.
The use of cream or foam 3 in 1 eliminates the need for moisturizing and protecting the skin. In the opposite case, after cleansing, you will need to apply a softening and nourishing effect to the body, for example:
- tonic body balm Healing Derm;
- TENA soothing cream with zinc;
- cream with zinc oxide Abena;
- cream with Abena glycerol for excessively dry skin.
These products are positioned as effective compounds for moisturizing and nourishing the skin. And as a prevention of the formation of diaper rash and pressure sores, it is recommended to use means that form a protective film on the surface of problem areas:
- Menalind professional foam and cream;
- cream "Zinc and synodor" Seni Care;
- gel with menthol and camphor Menalind professional;
- cream foam with panthenol Healing Derm.
Features of intimate hygiene
The treatment of the genital area of an immobilized person should be given special attention. Personal hygiene products for bedridden patients are slightly different depending on gender. This is due to the anatomy of the genitals.
Men are washed 2 times a day: morning and evening. To treat the intimate area, you can use the above foams and creams for washing the body. However, if a person suffers from incontinence, they wash him after each change of diaper. Depending on the situation, wet wipes or cleaning foam are used.
In order to avoid the development of vulvitis and other inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, the intimate area of paralyzed and inactive women requires special care. The delicate procedure is carried out not only in the morning and in the evening, but also after each emptying of the bladder.
Hygienic procedures are convenient to do on the vessel using body foam. Also in the list of hygiene products for bedridden women it makes sense to add the following:
- furatsilin solution (1 tablet per glass of water);
- pale pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- weak infusion of calendula, raspberry leaves, pharmacy chamomile.
For bedridden patients of both sexes, the hygiene of the intimate zone is carried out with tweezers and a cotton swab. To prevent diaper rash, the crotch of women is treated with medical talcum powder. At the end of hygiene procedures, a new diaper is put on the patient.
Pampers is the most important hygiene product for the care of bedridden patients. What are the features of these products?
Types of adaptive tools
Modern manufacturers of medical supplies have ensured that relatives of a bedridden person provide him with decent care.
Today on sale you can find several varieties of adaptive devices:
- diapers of closed, half-open and open type of various volumes and degree of absorption;
- body - an actual means of care for bedridden elderly people, preventing the intentional tearing of the diaper;
- waterproof pants and trousers are worn over the diaper and exclude its leakage.
Bodies equipped with buttons and secret valves, as well as waterproof trousers, are preferably worn by the patient at night. This way you can avoid the problems of shifting the diaper and getting its contents on the bed. This is a more humane decision than using fixatives, which is important if, for example, an elderly person suffers from dementia.
But diapers are a universal hygiene product for bedridden men and women, especially if a person has incontinence or there is no way to give him a vessel every time.
What manufacturers pampers are popular? What are the main advantages and disadvantages of their products, as well as what consumers write in the reviews?
The most sought after diapers for adults
Pampers for bed patients are selected, taking into account the size and absorbency of the products. In the lines of most manufacturers, diapers are available in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL, so choosing the right one is easy.
Absorbency values are indicated on the packaging in drops or milliliters. For example, for a person with a high degree of night incontinence, diapers are put on 6 or 8 drops, which corresponds to 1800 and 3100 ml of liquid absorbed by the product.
Among the characteristics declared by the manufacturers, it is also worth paying attention to the following:
- Air icon (breathable);
- moisture saturation indicator;
- the presence of a gasket-odor neutralizer
- reusable or disposable Velcro.
As for the manufacturers of these hygiene products for bedridden patients, Seni, TENA, MoliCare and Abri-Form are firmly in the position of sales leaders.
Seni diapers
Pampers of this Polish brand are issued free of charge under the IPR program (Super Seni). A serious drawback of such diapers is the lack of a "breathing" effect, from which the skin can shed. Velcro is also unreliable: they do not fasten again and, checking the diaper, it will have to be thrown out even clean.
However, other product lines - Super Seni Air and Super Seni Air Plus, which can be found on sale - have earned the trust of consumers. According to reviews of people caring for bedridden relatives, these breathable diapers absorb and retain a lot of moisture both in the center and on the sides. Their Velcro fastens securely after checking the diapers.
TENA diapers
The second in terms of purchase is TENA diapers. TENA Pants diaper pants are especially praised. Most reviews of the brand’s products are positive, but there are also negative points. Some people complain about the low strength of the material and the fact that the diaper is barely enough for 8 hours.
MoliCare diapers
Good reviews about the products of the German manufacturer MoliCare, especially about the Premium Super model. However, if diapers of a high degree of absorption are required, even they do not provide reliable protection against leakage, therefore they are not suitable for patients who drink a lot of fluids.
Abri-Form Diapers
This is the best hygiene product for bedridden patients from the Danish company Abena. According to customer reviews, these diapers are fully consistent with the manufacturer's specifications. Soft breathable diapers of anatomical shape absorb even more than indicated on the package, do not tear, “breathe”, neutralize odors, and have a convenient indicator of filling. And they cost not much more than their analogues.
In conclusion, I would like to note the features of care for bedridden elderly people. A short guide will allow you to remember to purchase something absolutely necessary.
Features of care for the elderly
The appearance of diaper rash and pressure sores is the main problem that occurs with improper care for a bedridden patient. Soft tissue necrosis also develops in young, for example, postoperative or long-term patients in intensive care. However, with a favorable prognosis, bedsores are treated well during rehabilitation. What can not be said about an elderly person bedridden.
Preventing tissue necrosis is much easier than treating, so pay attention to a number of effective anti-decubitus drugs:
- protective cloth "Second skin";
- self-adhesive dressing with silver or calcium alginate fibers;
- bactericidal powder "Silver powder" with pronounced sorbing properties;
- gel "Badyaga Forte", activating blood circulation;
- fir or propolis oil;
- Pork fat balm.
If the appearance of pressure sores could not be avoided, in no case do not use alcohol solutions popular in the past to wipe bedridden patients, brilliant green or potassium permanganate - this will make the patient even worse. Call a doctor to examine the patient and prescribe treatment according to skin condition.
Another common problem that relatives of seriously ill elderly people face is lacrimation and discharge from the eyes as a result of inflammatory processes.
For prevention, it is recommended to use the following tools:
- 3% boric acid solution;
- 0.02% solution of furatsilina or drinking soda.
With a wet cotton swab, you need to wipe the eyelids and eyelashes from the outer to the inner corner of the eye at least 4-5 times, changing the tampons. Then blot your eyes with a dry cloth. The procedure is carried out after morning washing.
In bedridden elderly people in an unconscious state, their mouths often open, which leads to severe drying of the mucous membranes. In this case, you need to buy one of the drugs called "Artificial Saliva". They are sold in the form of moisturizing sprays, which form a non-drying film on the lips and oral cavity. Many drugs are designed for use by diabetics.
When purchasing hygiene products for bedridden patients in Moscow and other cities of Russia, do not be too lazy to leave feedback. According to the most optimistic estimates, there are at least 5.5 million bedridden people in the country. And this is hardly an objective indicator. Therefore, your opinion and experience can be very useful to other people caring for seriously ill relatives.