Things to keep in mind when caring for someone who is bedridden

My grandfather had a surgery recently and that is when our normal life went haywire. This was a first time experience for all of us since he is really old now and we had a lot of challenges in taking care of him.

A few things I have learnt personally from this entire episode -

One, it is ok to reach out for help and hire an attender or caretaker to take care of them at home. This does not mean we love or care for them less. It just means that we are bringing in experts to help with taking care of them. These folks are professionals and are trained to take care of sick people who are bedridden.

When we got someone for help, I was surprised by how expertly she changed the bed sheets and diapers. When we tried to do it ourselves on the first day before we hired her, we struggled to do that.

There are many healthcare providers that run these kind of services. Ask around for recommendations and hire someone.

Second, there are so many products in the market that are used to aid us in taking care of them at home. Check them out online. We got my grandfather a temporary seat adjuster that helps him in sitting and lying down. The first thing we made sure we had before we got him back home was an air bed. 

All said and done, the most difficult part is in understanding them. They will have mood swings, will throw a tantrum. Don't take it personally and continue to provide them with the best care.