The Sidney herald., 1957-03-14
When You Retire
Robert Peterson
Tips on Caring for the
Infrm Aged
Peterson

lips VII O0AAL6 AuI tuc
Infrm Aged
Illness is a blight that may
someday creep into u lives. In
exchange for the good fortune
of living into advanced years, the
give-and-take of life sometimes
requires that we undergo the
misfortune of becoming i'll and
bedfast.
Many readers of this column
have written to ask for sugges-
tons on the home care of aged
patients. What, they ask, can be
done to make life easier both for
the patients and for those who
must care for them? Here are
some suggestions:
/. Take the point of view that
the patient is going to get bet
ter. Even though he may be 80
or 80 years old, remember that
no one is SO old that some i'm
provement is not possible. There
are many instances on record of
persons of very advanced years
who have been i'll for months but
who have made remarkable re-
coveries.
2. Talk with your physician
about exercises and massage that
you can give to keep the patients
joints from stiffening, his circu-
lation from becoming sluggish,
and his muscles from becoming
flabby. Every effort should be
made, under the physicians guild
ance, to get the patient back on
his feet as quickly as possible.
3. Ask a public health nurse
to come in and teach you the
professional methods of turning
the patient in bed, of lifting the
patient out of bed, of making a
bed with the patient in it, and of
giving a bed bath. Knowing the
most efficient way to perform
these difficult tasks will help you
eliminate much of the strain in
volved.
4. If it appears the patient will
be bedfast for sometime, invest
in a Hospital bed"-the type that
can be cranked up so the patient
can sit in bed. In addition sus-
pend a rope from the ceiling over
the bed so the patient can grasp
this and help himself in turning
over or pulling himself up. This
will also encourage him to exer-
cize his arms and shoulders. For
additional ideas visit a nearby
Veterans Hospital and see the lat
est devices provided for bedfast
patients.
5. Try to locate a pleasant,
capable older person who, for a
small hourly fee, will come in
one or two days a week for a
few hours and sit with the pa
tient. This will not only provide
with a needed respite from
nursing responsibilities, but will
provide the patient with the re-
freshing pleasure of a new face
and new conversation.
6. Stimulate the patients in
in life by providing both
4 radio and television set. See
hat there are living things in his
-oom, such as potted plants, birds,
and an aff~ectionate dog or cat.
Place a bird or squirrel-feeding
;helf outside his window. Pro-
yide him with plenty of things
read. If his eyesight is poor, 4;
,btain a photograph and then ]
ind a library in your locality !
where O can check out talking s
,ooks"-recordings of well-known
Encourage your friends
md neighbors to drop in fire. !
Iuently for short visits with the '
,atient. Make up a simple sched- I
lie of activities each week so
hat the patient will have some <
nlng specific to look forward to t
ach day. If at all possible, see $
hat the patient gets to go for a /
rive occasionally. G
In addition, you should consult Q
With an occupational therapist in
our nearby hospital and obtain $
is ideas on things your patient ?
an do to keep his mind and Q
ands occupied. ; ;
Above all, deal with the pa :
.ent generously and lovingly. :,
While it is a great burden for !.
to bear the responsibility for =
is care, remember that you may
,meday be similarly afflicted. :,
reat your patient as you would 4
ish to be treated, and bear in u
lind that there are few services :
,ore noble than to provide low !,
~ care to the aged members OF
ne's family.