Caring for a bedridden patient is not an easy or ordinary task. It is a serious human and healthcare responsibility that requires knowledge, patience, and careful attention. Because bedridden patients are more vulnerable to physical and psychological complications, understanding how to care for a bedridden patient becomes a critical concern for every family seeking safe, respectful, and dignified bedridden elderly care at home.
Bedridden patient care is an integrated process aimed at preserving their physical and mental health and human dignity at the same time, while also reducing the risks of long-term potential complications.
Understanding how to care for a bedridden person will, undoubtedly, help in completing this task successfully via:
Bedsores are among the most common risks for bedridden patients, resulting from continuous pressure on bony areas such as the sacrum, heels, shoulder blades, and elbows.
To prevent them, a medical bed and a suitable air mattress should be used, and the patient’s position should be changed regularly every 30 – 60 minutes.
Early signs of these ulcers include skin redness, localized pain, and the appearance of blisters. Therefore, keeping the skin clean and dry, with gentle massage of pressure-prone areas, is an essential part of effective bedridden care.
Hygiene care for bedridden patients is a key element in preventing infections and bedsores. The body should be cleaned regularly using warm washcloths or dedicated dry cleaners, and diapers and pads should be changed frequently.
Oral hygiene is also essential, so it should be cleaned daily using gauze and saline solution or a suitable mouthwash.
In addition, experts emphasize that keeping bedridden hygiene not only maintains the patient’s health but also improves their psychological state and daily comfort.
A balanced diet supports skin healing, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the risk of constipation and malnutrition. This underscores the importance of ensuring adequate protein, vitamins, minerals, and fluid intake for a bedridden person.
Moreover, in certain cases, consulting a nutritionist to develop a balanced and appropriate dietary plan for bedridden individuals, especially the elderly, is recommended.
Physical and Mobility Care
Mobility and physical care are an essential part of the concept of how to care for a bedridden person safely, as the lack of movement can lead to joint stiffness and muscle weakness. Therefore, the patient should be encouraged to perform gentle, passive exercises, or with the assistance of home nursing bedridden patient to help with gently moving and stretching the limbs. Especially since this type of care reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis and maintains joint flexibility.
Bedridden patients often suffer from feelings of sadness, isolation, and hopelessness. Therefore, psychological support through talking, listening, and involving them in their daily environment has a significant impact on improving their overall health, confirming that attention to mental health is no less important than physical care, and it accelerates recovery and improves quality of life.
A person is considered bedridden when they are unable to move or perform daily living activities wholly or partially due to a chronic illness, disability, old age, or after complex surgical procedures, and these patients require continuous care at home.
Unfortunately, bedridden patients face multiple health challenges that require careful preventive and professional intervention, such as:
Lying down for extended periods slows down digestion and increases stomach acidity, which can lead to heartburn and acid reflux. To overcome this problem, it is recommended to elevate the head of the bed by 15 – 20 cm and avoid eating before bedtime.
Lack of movement affects normal bowel function and can lead to chronic constipation. Therefore, increasing fluid and fiber intake, encouraging any small movement, and establishing a bowel movement schedule can help with constipation.
Loss of bowel and bladder control affects the patient both physically and psychologically. In this case, appropriate assistive devices can be used, and the skin should be thoroughly cleaned after each bowel movement to minimize skin irritation and preserve the patient’s dignity.
Catheters and lack of movement increase the risk of infection, while drinking enough water, maintaining good hygiene, and regular medical checkups are essential for UTI prevention.
Prolonged lying down can lead to swelling of the extremities and blood clots, so it’s important to change position and do some passive exercises, as these help improve blood circulation.
Lack of joint movement can also lead to loss of flexibility, but simple daily exercises maintain mobility and reduce pain.
Prolonged isolation affects mental health; therefore, social interaction and emotional support are essential components of a care plan and a key element in how to care for a bedridden person.
Psychological and physical changes may reduce the desire for food, affecting the patient’s overall health, while offering small, frequent meals with a variety of foods can help improve nutrition.
In light of learning how to care for a bedridden patient, there are some procedures that, when applied, can help the patient avoid potential complications, such as:
Regularly changing the position of a bedridden patient is one of the most important aspects of daily care, as it reduces continuous pressure on specific areas of the body and prevents bedsores. It also helps improve blood circulation, reduce swelling, and alleviate discomfort caused by prolonged lying in one position.
Maintaining personal hygiene for bedridden patients protects the skin from infections and inflammation, reduces unpleasant odors and discomfort, and includes body cleaning, regular diaper changes, oral hygiene, and thorough skin drying, all of which positively impact the patient’s physical and mental health.
Balanced nutrition and good hydration are essential for supporting the immune system of bedridden patients and maintaining healthy skin and muscles. Consuming proteins, vitamins, and minerals along with drinking sufficient fluids helps prevent constipation, accelerate wound healing, and reduce the risk of health complications.
Regular movement, especially with the help of a physiotherapist, nurse, or caregiver, helps prevent joint stiffness and muscle weakness. Appropriate movements, tailored to each case, improve limb flexibility, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce the risk of venous thrombosis, while preserving motor function for as long as possible.
Rest assured that regular medical follow-up is essential for detecting any health changes or complications early, such as infections or bedsores. Regular medical supervision undoubtedly ensures that the care plan is adjusted according to the patient’s condition, improving their quality of life and reducing the need for emergency medical care or hospitalization.
There are indeed some situations that necessitate seeking the assistance of specialized and professional home nursing to care for bedridden patients, such as:
At Lana Life Care, we understand that caring for a bedridden patient requires more than just daily assistance; it requires expertise, compassion, and an integrated care system. In Dubai, we provide highly professional home nursing services for bedridden patients by a qualified and DHA-licensed nursing team that operates around the clock.
Whether you are looking for a nurse at home dubai or advanced solutions for bedridden patients, especially the elderly, rest assured that we are committed to providing safe, humane care at home with customized plans that suit each patient’s needs at competitive prices.
Bedridden patients are generally classified into:
The 20-minute rule is used to avoid overeating, as it refers to the physiological fact that the brain needs about 20 minutes after starting to eat to feel full.
