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Show WOMAN'S WORLD Thoughtful Home Care Speeds Recovery, Comfort of Patient By Eitta Haley MINOR Illnesses which confine people tj bed at home are a frequent occurence with the appearance appear-ance of Cool weather. Most home-makers home-makers view these incidents with some apprehension for they're not only upsetting to the routine of the household, but difficult to all concerned. con-cerned. "I just don't know what to do with Johnny when he ha. to be at home while sick." says one mother of her six-yc.ir-old. Or, "My husband's hus-band's home with the flu, and he's so grouchy about being confined to bed," says another. Much of the strain and stress of these situations comes from the fact that mother does not really know what to do about the patient. It's not worry about the patient's recovery that's upsetting nearly so much as not knowing exactly what to do about the whole thing. A few facts about practical home nursing will help the homemaker over these periods. Much of the handling of the patient, naturally, depends on the illness, but, in general, gen-eral, colds and infections and uncomplicated un-complicated sickness are handled simply. Definite Routine Helps To Establish Order When the homemaker knows what to do and when to do it, and follows fol-lows the same program every day of the illness, she can make herself much more efficient in her actual help toward a patient. At the same time, when someone confined to bed knows when he'll get Keep hot foods hot by covering them with a heated inverted bowl. Servings should be small so they will appear more appetizing. Use simple, fresh garnishes whenever possible. Before serving food, have the patient pa-tient as comfortable as possible. He Good home nursing gives aid . . . his meals, bath and a freshly made bed, he'll feel that, even though bed-ridden, he's on a schedule. All this contributes to comfort and helps keep him as cheerful as possible, pos-sible, an important aid toward recovery. re-covery. Schedules need not be rigid, but may be altered to fit the circumstances. circum-stances. If certain things vary from 15 to 20 minutes, for example, no harm is done, but If they stray too much from their time limits, disorder disor-der is created. Schedules also make it possible to get things accomplished because you know certain things are to be done,1 and a time guide helps you speed the work accordingly. Remember, Re-member, too, that If you're often off schedule, it should probably be changed as you're attempting too much. Meals should be served at about the same times to which he is accustomed ac-customed to them, as the patient looks forward to a tray or a meal out of bed, even though he is not very hungry. Baths may be given in the morning morn-ing or afternoon, and the room made straight at this same time. Plan a reading or entertainment period after breakfast and bath time and then again in the afternoon. Scheduled rest is essential if the patient is only slightly 111, as this is the reason he's at home. A back rub late in the afternoon or just before retiring is very helpful help-ful to confined people as backs get tired. Even a five-minute rub with should have face and hands washed, and hair straightened. If a tray without legs is not available, then put a pillow on the lap to hold the tray. Prop the patient so he'll be comfortable while eating. Plan to give any assistance that is essential essen-tial toward eating the meal. Plan to Aid Feeding Of Helpless Patient Some people who have been 111, and some who suffer from heart disorders, dis-orders, and children who become so weak with an illness just cannot feed themselves. Older people frequently dread mealtime because it tires them so. Great patience is necessary to feed someone. First, be comfortable, sitting at the bedside rather than standing. Point fork or spoon directly direct-ly into the mouth when feeding so it's easy to remove the food. Never put too much food on spoon or fork at one time, and make certain cer-tain it's neither too hot or cold. Change from one food to the other, as Is the patient's custom. Talk pleasantly and cheerfully to the patient about something other than his food during the feeding. Rest between every few bites, so the meal does not seem rushed. Bent glass feeding tubes for liquids are excellent for the helpless. help-less. Always be sure, however, when using them, that the liquid Is lower than the patient's mouth. Sick Patient's Bed Should be Comfortable Since someone ill is spending most of the day as well as the night in bed, every effort should be made to keep the bed comfortable. Frequent airing and changing of the bedding is essential as anyone sick usually runs a temperature and thus perspires per-spires excessively. Two pillows are usually enough to keep the patient comfortable if he is propped. A single pillow is used at night and for naps. If desired, several small pillows may be used for propping, too, to keep the patient pa-tient most comfortable. A rubber sheet may be placed under the sheet on the bed to keep mattress from soiling if the patient needs it. However, it must be remembered re-membered that a long time In a bed made with rubber sheeting is apt to cause sores. Rubber sheeting may be sewed to cotton on all the sides so there will be enough material ma-terial to tuck well under the mattress, mat-tress, thus preventing the rubber from slipping and wrinkling. To make the bed with the patient in it, if he cannot be moved, make one side completely first, after having hav-ing moved the patient to the unmade un-made side. When this side is made, the patient can be rolled over, while the bed is completed. Special Attention Is Essential for Sick Child Illness makes children miserable misera-ble and irritable because a child dislikes being confined and kept quiet. Furthermore, his experience with pain is limited so he cannot understand un-derstand it. Any sick child should be carefully careful-ly observed as to his skin (if flushed or hot), dull eyes, restlessness and fretfulness. In a young child who cannot give expression to things which, bother him, observation of these symptoms is important. Keeping the child amused is important im-portant with games of his level, reading or just telling stories to him. Paper cutting, pasting, painting paint-ing and coloring should be available availa-ble if he likes any of them. Sponging frequently during the day In cases of high fever helps keep him comfortable. Liquids given through straws are frequently interesting in-teresting to him, and important to recovery. nd comfort to helpless patient. alcohol breaks the monotony of being be-ing in bed and relaxes the patient fcr a good night's sleep. Food for Convalescent Should Be Attractive Food is associated with so many happy experiences that it can help greatly In a patient's recovery because be-cause It Improves his general outlook out-look and well-being. Though simple foods are usually the prescribed diet, they can be well-prepared and attractively served. Do not be afraid to use good china and silverware. Lovely linens and anything gay In table apparel such as napkins and doilies help Interest the patient. A single bud or a small spray of flowers, flow-ers, or even a small plant on the meal tray can cheer someone who's sick. |