Ernest Rosenbaum, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San...read more
- How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 1 of 2
- How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 2 of 2
- Going Home from the Hospital: Part 1 of 2
- Going Home from the Hospital: Part 2 of 2
- Exercises for People with Limited Mobility: Part 1 of 2
- Exercises for People with Limited Mobility: Part 2 of 2
- Bed Positioning: Part 1 of 2
- Bed Positioning: Part 2 of 2
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 1 of 3
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 2 of 3
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 3 of 3
- Home Safety Solutions
- How to Administer the Heimlich Maneuver for Choking
- How to Administer CPR
- Emergency Situation: Difficulty Breathing
- Emergency Situation: Severe Bleeding
- Emergency Situation: Broken Bones or Falls
- Before Hospital Discharge—Evaluating Your Homecare Needs
- Bathroom Aids
- Skin Care Treatments and Solutions
- Massage Therapy Techniques
- Pain Medication at Home—Top Do’s and Don’ts
- Pain Medication at Home—The Steps of Giving an Injection
- Pain Medication at Home—Side Effects from Pain Medication
- Pain Medication at Home—Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections
- Pain Medication at Home—Controlling Pain
- Housework Tips
- Mouth Care for Cancer Patients
- Eating and Drinking Aids
- Dressing Tips
- Cooking Tips
- Bowel and Bladder Care
- Administering Pain Medication at Home
- Activities and Aids to Daily Living Overview
Supportive Homecare
Bed Positioning: Part 2 of 2
Print
Email
Comments (3)
Repositioning
Frequent change of position is the second means of preventing bedsores and muscle wasting. If you are unable to turn over by yourself, it is important that your family helper understands the need and techniques for frequent repositioning—at least every two hours is a good rule of thumb.
Having a pull or draw sheet placed under you will greatly help another person turn you over. He or she folds a large sheet in half twice, forming a band slightly wider than the distance between your hips and your shoulders. Then you turn to one side, and your helper rolls the band up halfway and places the rolled part next to you (A). Then you turn back over the rolled part and onto the pull sheet, which should be under the heaviest part of your body, between shoulders and hips (B). Unrolling the pull sheet, your helper can now tug on the sheet rather than you, in helping you to turn over.
Small pillows or rolled-up towels can also be used to support your head, back, and upper leg when making a move. Your family helper should try to assist you to find positions that will be comfortable for as long as two hours. Remember, keep your knees and elbows slightly bent, not straight; most joints are most comfortable when slightly flexed. Use pillows to support the small of the back, the shoulders, and between the knees. Unlike other jointed parts of the body, your spine should be straight.
Positioning the feet is very important. If they are not flexed and exercised, and are allowed to remain limp for long periods, a condition known as foot-drop can develop. This is a condition caused by a shortening of the Achilles tendon and paralysis of the back muscles of the legs. Besides flexing exercises, props constructed from a cardboard box, sandbags, or wood can be used to keep your feet at right angles to your legs.
Efficiency is important for your family helper. He or she can simplify the task of moving you by analyzing in advance the best way to make the move. If possible, the bed should be elevated to your helper's hip level, and all obstacles and causes of friction should be removed.
Standing as close to your bed as possible, your helper should roll or slide you into the desired position. Lifting can cause back strain and may not actually be necessary. For most efficient use of your helper's strength, he or she should stand with legs slightly apart, back straight, and use leg and hip muscles for most power and least strain while moving you.
By paying attention to all that we've discussed in this section, your stay in bed can be made most comfortable, and kept free from troublesome complications.
Read Bed Positioning: Part 1 of 2
Read Exercises for People With Limited Mobility
Editor's Note: This article was authored by Becky Moore, RN. |
|
Posted in How to Care for Someone at Home, Positioning & Exercises for the Bedridden, Supportive Homecare
Advertisement
My father in law at 92 has sciatica and he is suffering great pain in his lower back and legs in the mornings. He has a misconception that the foot of his bed has to be raised by 8 or more inches which he has done now for several weeks. I say this is really not good for his legs am I right or wrong? Thank you for an early response to this request. Charles Churches
Thank you for a reply. Charles
Dear Charles,
The pain you describe with your father-in-law should really be addressed by his physician. Sciatica is a very painful condition that seems to benefit greatly from rest (if the body is in good alignment). If your father-in-law is trying to alleviate some of his pain with “elevating the foot of the bed”, he might try to also slightly elevate the knee area (with a pillow under/between his knees, and to also elevate his head with one or two pillows also. In other words, all body parts need to be properly supported for good body alignment. If he continues to just elevate the feet only, and the rest of his body is straight, flat, and taut, he might be making matters worse by placing too much stress on the spine.
I would suggest you recognize his need for independence, but also to advise him to check with his doctor who would know best how to treat his sciatica—in bed and out.
Celebrating Life!
Audrey Wuerl, RN, BSN
Hospice of San Joaquin
Education Coordinator