Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
! CHOOSING SICKROOM AT HOME

Adequate care of the sick consists
toEa large extent in rendering their
physical and mental surroundings as
favorable as possible. Obviously
sick person, since his strength is al
ready depleted, needs not only to have
his resistance increase in all possible
ways but also to have all his re-
mating every unnecessary tax upon
lit. In sickness even slight fatigue,
chill or nervous strain, insufficient
ventilation or improper feeding may
become factors of immense impor-
tance. Nothing is trivial if it affects
the welfare and comfort of a patient.
Ideal conditions for caring for a
patient are rare, but little ingenuity
can greatly improve the arrangement
of almost any room. OF course, in
the case Of a slight illness Of short
| duration, many radical changes are
unnecessary, but where there is a
+, long serious illness the surroundings
may be of the greatest Importance,
and except when certain essentials
ARE concerned consideration should be
given to the patients preferences.
In most climates south or an east
exposure is generally best in sick
room. \ south room may be undesir-
| able in hot weather, but sunshine dur
ing at least part Of the day is essen
tial. The room should be quiet, near
| the bath room, we'll removed from
the odors Of the kitchen and situated
so that good ventilation is possible.
1t is desirable but not absolutely nee
essary that it have more than one win
dow. and in summer the windows
should be thoroughly screened. The
bed should be placed so that the win
dow may be opened without exposing
the patient to direct drafts or the
door opened without putting him in
full view of the hall.
1t is essential for the patient 10
have a room to himself. Unless he
needs care or watching at night, not
even the person caring for him should
sleep in the room, and other members
of the family should never keep their
possessions in the sick room or in clos
cts opening into it. For the time
being the room should belong eX-
clusively to the patient.
Every possible precaution should
be taken to exclude from a sick room
Unnecessary noises Of all kinds. Flap
ping of curtains, squeakv doors and
rocking chairs, heels without rubber,
rustling clothes or newspapers, tick
ing clocks, refractory bureau drawers
and many other sounds a well per-
son rever notices are irritating to the
nerves of a sick person. Ordinary
out-of-doors noises do not usually
disturb the sick, eXcept in the case
of a country person brought to the
city and vice-versa. Whispering is
an annoying sound and should not be
allowed either in the patients room
or Just outside the door. Whatever
the subject of conversation may be,
the patient thinks that he himself is
under discussion. Anything under
sirable for him to hear should be set
tied well out of his hearing, and in
speaking to him there is no possible
objection to an ordinary well-modu-
lated voice.
Usually a persons own room is
more restful to him and less disturb
ing than strange place, but if it
serves as n workroom as well as
bed room it may easily be the worst
of desk piled high with papers or
a blanket overlooking with family
mending may actually delay recovery.
The room itself may suggest work
left undone, and so have bad effect.
Mental rest is no less important than
physical, and every effort should be
made to insure both.