In deciding to take care of disabled loves ones at home, the simplest of daily routines can become a real challenge to both the caretaker and to the patient; none more so than those that have to be completed in the privacy of a bathroom.
Bath Time
When the patient’s physical condition is quite serious, it may be very difficult to move the person onto a wheelchair, or even to keep them in an upright position. This would make bathing them seem like an impossible task, even in bathtub, especially if there is only one person to carry out this task. Unless you can afford to employ assistants to help with this task, you may need to consider investing in a solution that will bring the bathroom to the patient. This is where a electric hospital beds for sale may come in handy. Although this solution does not come cheaply, it may very well pay for itself in the long run by eliminating wage payments for helpers.
If, fortunately, the individual is capable of bathing independently with the control they have over their upper body, then a plastic seat with side rails can be built into the shower area for this purpose. The seat should be positioned with consideration for easy transition to and from a wheelchair, and the shower head should be either detachable or easily accessible from the seat. This solution is ideal suitable for those individuals that desire autonomy, as there is no need for an assistant’s aid.
Using the Restroom
Patients with sufficient motor control may be capable of getting to the toilet by themselves with the aid of a walker or a wheelchair. Once there, they may be able to use the facilities independently, providing that the toilet has been built with the special needs of the disabled person in mind. This means that at minimum, the toilet needs to be spacious enough to allow a free range of movement for the individual and for their wheel chair if need be. Railings will also need to be fitted in order to assist patients to lower or elevate themselves on and off the toilet. For bedridden patients who cannot be easily moved however, methods that bring the conveniences of the toilet to the individual, similar to the shower bed solution for bathing, may be the way to go. In this case, it may be necessary to resort to the more old-fashioned mobility walkers Melbourne methods of bedpans and catheters.Some patients’ disabilities may be temporary in nature, with recovery on the horizon. However for others, the condition may be a life-long one. Depending on the extent of the disability, adequate measures must be put into place before bringing the patient home.