A person is bedridden due to age-related diseases, severe pathologies or injuries. In any case, he needs special care, including daily hygiene procedures.
What hygiene products for bedridden patients should always be kept in stock and how to choose the most effective?
Essentials
Many, due to excessive 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 make a list of necessary supplies that make the patient's life as comfortable as possible, and care for him as efficient and easy as possible.
The list of hygienic care products for bedridden patients (both men and women) should include the following types of medical goods:
- Absorbent disposable sheets and diapers.
- Detergentsproducts for face, body and hair.
- Cotton swabs and sticks.
- Wet wipes.
- Disposable towels.
- Products to nourish and protect the skin.
- Decubitus medications.
- Diapers for bedridden adults.
- Shaving and manicure supplies.
- 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 order of actions
Specialists of visiting centers recommend 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;
- foot washing.
The hair of bedridden people is usually washed no more than once a week. Nails on the hands and feet are trimmed as they grow. The auricles and ear canals are also recommended to be cleaned daily. For face and body hygiene, it is better to use special detergents and products that prevent the development of soft tissue necrosis.
All manipulations are performed only with disposable gloves.
Cavity care productsmouth
Every immobilized person needs daily cleaning of the oral cavity, even if he is fed through a tube. For an effective procedure, you will need to purchase:
- cotton buds or disposable spatulas to clean the inside of the cheeks;
- soft toothbrush or set of disposable brushes;
- toothpaste for sensitive gums;
- soft nose syringe if the person cannot rinse their mouth;
- absorbent wipes;
- cosmetic petroleum jelly or moisturizing lip balm.
If possible, it is better to buy disposable brushes that have already been coated with toothpaste, such as Sherbet. This is a very convenient hygiene product for bedridden patients, because with such a brush you can brush your teeth without using water, which is especially important when a person cannot be seated on a bed.
Face wash, ear and nose cleaner
For morning and evening washing, you need a small plastic basin with water, a soft sponge and a towel.
The nasal mucosa can dry out in all people, but severely ill patients are often unable to blow their nose and free the nasal passages from the formed crusts. Therefore, you need to use cotton swabs, vaseline or apricot oil.
The ears and the scalp around them are wiped with wet wipes. To do this, it is better to choose products of reputable brands, for example:
- Cleanic Antibacterial;
- Menalind Professional;
- Seni Care;
- White Whale;
- "Medical Klins".
The ear canals are cleaned very gently with a cotton swab. Periodically, the procedure is carried out using 3% hydrogen peroxide. This will prevent wax buildup and blockages.
Hair wash
What are the features of bedridden care? Hygiene products that keep the hair and head clean how are they used? In fact, the procedure itself is not as complicated as it seems.
Seriously ill bedridden people are usually cut short. However, due to their immobility, their hair gets dirty pretty quickly. To wash your hair, you will need to purchase an inflatable tub with a drain hose and shampoo. When choosing a cleanser, opt for products with a neutral Ph level that won't dry out your skin.
There are also special products on sale that do not need to be washed off with water. They are more often used for patients who categorically do not want to wash their hair. Such products are produced in the form of lotions, shampoos and caps. On the package, look for the inscription "Without water". These compounds cleanse and nourish the scalp well, after the procedure you just need to blot your hair with a towel.
Body hygiene products
After washing, the faces move on to the treatment of the body. In bedridden people, blood circulation is inevitably disturbed, excessive sensitivity and dryness of the skin appear. Therefore, ordinary alkaline soap is notsuitable, 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;
- does not cause allergies;
- do not contain strong flavors.
Daily hygiene procedures are greatly simplified if you purchase 3 in 1 cleansing, softening and protective products. They do not need to be washed off with water, just pat your body dry with a towel.
The manufacturer of the best hygiene products for bedridden patients is considered to be TENA - a Swedish brand founded in 1929 with production facilities in many countries of Europe and Asia. Their product line includes a very effective 3 in 1 washing foam and a 3 in 1 cream. These products fully meet the above requirements, and also neutralize unpleasant odors, give a person in a helpless state a feeling of freshness and cleanliness.
Since body hygiene is the most important activity in the care of bedridden patients, it is worth mentioning products from other manufacturers.
Cleansing, moisturizing, protecting
When choosing products for washing the body of a bedridden 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,e.g. CV Medica impregnated with foaming gel.
All these bedside care products gently and gently 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 hands and feet, where a large number of pathogenic bacteria accumulate.
Using a 3 in 1 cream or foam eliminates the need to moisturize and protect the skin. Otherwise, after cleansing, you will need to apply a product with a softening and nourishing effect to the body, for example:
- Healing Derm toning body balm;
- TENA Calming Zinc Cream;
- Zinc Oxide Cream Abena;
- Abena glycerol cream for extremely dry skin.
These products are positioned as effective formulations for moisturizing and nourishing the skin. And as a prevention of the formation of diaper rash and bedsores, it is recommended to use products that form a protective film on the surface of problem areas:
- menalind professional foam and cream;
- cream "Zinc and Sinodor" Seni Care;
- menthol and camphor gel Menalind professional;
- Healing Derm.
Features of intimate hygiene
Special attention should be paid to the treatment of the genital area of an immobilized person. Personal hygiene products for bedridden patients are somewhat different depending on gender. This is due to the anatomy of the genitals.
Men are washed 2 times a day: in the morning and in the evening. To treat the intimate area, you canuse the foams and creams presented above for washing the body. However, if a person suffers from incontinence, he is washed away after each diaper change. Depending on the situation, use wet wipes or cleansing foam.
In order to avoid the development of vulvitis and other inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, the intimate area of paralyzed and sedentary women requires special care. A delicate procedure is carried out not only in the morning and evening, but also after each emptying of the bladder.
Hygiene procedures are conveniently done over the vessel using body foam. It also makes sense to add the following to the list of hygiene products for bedridden women:
- Furacilin 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, hygiene of the intimate area is carried out with tweezers and a cotton swab. To prevent diaper rash, the perineum of women is treated with medical talc. At the end of hygiene procedures, the patient is put on a new diaper.
Pampers is the most important hygienic care for bedridden patients. What are the features of these products?
Types of adaptive tools
Modern manufacturers of medical products have made sure that the relatives of a bedridden person provide him with decent care.
Today, several varieties of adaptive devices can be found on sale:
- closed, semi-open and open diapers of various sizes and degrees of absorbency;
- bodysuit - an actual means of caring for bedridden elderly, preventing intentional tearing off of the diaper;
- Waterproof briefs and pantaloons are worn over the diaper and prevent it from leaking.
Body, equipped with buttons and secret valves, as well as waterproof pantaloons, it is preferable to wear the patient at night. So you can avoid the problems of shifting the diaper and getting its contents on the bed. This is a more humane solution than using braces, which is important if, for example, an elderly person has dementia.
But diapers are a universal means of hygiene for bedridden sick men and women, especially if a person has incontinence or does not have the opportunity to give him a ship every time.
Pampers of which manufacturers are popular? What are the main advantages and disadvantages of their products, and what do consumers say in reviews?
Most Selling Adult Diapers
Diapers for bedridden patients are chosen 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 it will not be difficult to find the right one.
Absorption rates are indicated on the package in drops or milliliters. For example, for a person with a high degree of incontinence, 6 or 8 drops of diapers are worn at night, which corresponds to 1800 and 3100 ml of liquid absorbed by the product.
Among the characteristics announcedmanufacturers, you should also pay attention to the following:
- Icon Air (breathable);
- moisture saturation indicator;
- presence of an odor neutralizer pad;
- reusable or disposable Velcro.
As far as manufacturers of these bedside hygiene products are concerned, Seni, TENA, MoliCare and Abri-Form hold strong positions as the top sellers.
Seni diapers
Pampers of this Polish brand are given out 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 swell. Velcro is also unreliable: they do not fasten again, and when checking the diaper, you will have to throw it away even clean.
However, other commodity items - Super Seni Air and Super Seni Air Plus, which can be found on sale - have earned the trust of consumers. According to the reviews of people caring for bedridden relatives, these breathable diapers perfectly absorb and retain a lot of moisture both in the center and on the sides. Their Velcro fastens securely after checking the diaper.
TENA diapers
The second most sold diapers are TENA diapers. TENA Pants diapers are especially praised. Most reviews of the brand's products are positive, but there are also negative points. Some people complain that the material is not very durable and that the diaper barely lasts 8 hours.
MoliCare diapers
Good reviews for the products of the German manufacturer MoliCare, especially for the Premium Super model. However, if highly absorbent diapers are required, even they do not provide reliable protection against leakage, and therefore 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 consumer reviews, these diapers fully comply with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer. Soft breathable anatomically shaped diapers absorb even more than indicated on the package, do not tear, "breathe", neutralize odors, and have a convenient fullness indicator. And they are not much more expensive than their counterparts.
In conclusion, I would like to note the features of care products for bedridden elderly people. A short guide will help you remember to buy something essential.
Features of care products for the elderly
The appearance of diaper rash and bedsores is the main problem that occurs when the patient is not cared for properly. Soft tissue necrosis also develops in young people, for example, postoperative patients or those who have lain in intensive care for a long time. However, with a favorable prognosis in the rehabilitation process, bedsores are well treated. The same cannot be said for a bedridden elderly man.
Prevention of tissue necrosis is much easier than cure, so pay attention to a number of effective anti-decubitus remedies:
- protective napkin "Second skin";
- self-adhesive dressing with silver or fiberscalcium alginate;
- bactericidal powder "Silver Powder" with pronounced sorbing properties;
- gel "Badyaga Forte", activating blood circulation;
- fir or propolis oil;
- balm "Pork fat".
If the appearance of bedsores could not be avoided, in no case do not use alcohol solutions that were popular in the past for wiping 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 the condition of the skin.
Another common problem faced by relatives of seriously ill elderly people is tearing and discharge from the eyes as a result of inflammatory processes.
For prevention, it is recommended to use the following means:
- 3% boric acid solution;
- 0, 02% solution of furacilin 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 swabs. Then blot your eyes with a dry cloth. The procedure is carried out after morning washing.
In the elderly lying in an unconscious state, the mouth is often ajar, 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 that form a non-drying film on the lips and in the 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.
