Here are some of mine
1-Making vegetable, chicken & rice soup with a tomato base, puree and freeze in the 4oz ball jars in the freezer to nuke for 1 min when ready to eat.
2-I like my bullet better then my ninja for pureeing, I have used a submersible blender for small items, like crab cake with a liquid.
3-Using a U shaped hoyer sling when putting mom to bed at night.
A- I prepare the bed with a diaper opened up on the bed
B- I lower mom into the perfect position over it.
C- Lift the head of the bed up after tucking the leg portion of the sling away from moms legs/elbows, then slowly using the lift sliding the back of the sling up and out behind mom. Easier then trying to lean her forward or roll to pull it out.
D- Then I lower the head of the bed, cut off moms depends. Tuck one side of the depends under her.
E- Then do a semi roll to one side, wipe if needed and always apply Destine between her bottom cheeks. Roll back and close the diaper on her.
4-Fold up the bottom half of moms night gown smoothly behind her when putting mom in the bed incase she ever needs changed in bed.
5-I could not find any long sleeve flannel hospital gowns. Cut a slit in the back of a flannel gown and hem a slit just above the waist. A short cut to sewing from scratch. During the fall and winter WalMart makes some really soft nice flannel gowns. I bought a few of these and mom loved them.
6-I use a solid sling for moving mom during the day into her recliner. It is more comfortable then the U sling
7-I always line the slings with a washable bed bad.
8-My mom can still stand & walk the distance from the bed enough that I can place a bedside commode behind her. She is incontinent but I have been luckly. 99% of BMs happen on the commode. Once mom is done, she stands and I remove the commode and place the wheelchair with a sling on it behind her. I then use the hoyer lift to put her in the recliner or bed.
9-I use Medline commode liners I found these to be the most absorbent
10-Keep a large trash can in the garage we place all disposable care items. When full we tie the bag and place in the outside trash can for trash day.
11-I tried the liquid thickeners for drinks, but I like this the best:
Hormel Thick & Easy Instant Food Thickener, Nectar Consistency, 0.16 Ounce (Pack of 100)
It dissolves easy.
10 Answers
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#2 Prepare multi meals for freezer.
#3 Use Bath and Body Works containerized room sprays for bathroom use of elder - they will last a LONG time and mask malodor.
#4 Have U.S.P.S. move elder's mailbox from street level to house.
#5 Set up speed dial on elder's home phone.
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At Spouse's stage of the game, if food is plated separately into meat and veg piles, he'll concentrate on the softest texture and leave the other pile alone. If I cut up meat small and blend it into the veggies, it's more likely to increase actual volume eaten. He drifts in concentration so if I mention "how does it taste" a few times, that redirects him onto eating rather than TV or the sudoku.
As for toileting he was unable to get out of bed. A washable sturdy bed pad was placed on sheet with two disposable pads on top. The washable pad was also used to move him up in the bed. He had a foley so part of the cleanup was easier. For baths and changes we used adult bath wipes and of course desitin on the bed sores. Got several dish pans from dollar store for bathing.
We got a TV for his room with a DVD player and a multitude of his Mash and old westerns he loved. It brought him many hours of pleasure.
I cook grass fed ground beef, add onion, garlic, spinach and maybe another green veg, tomato, mushrooms, sometimes black beans, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese and add cooked pasta or can do rice. Place in meal size containers and helpers for Dad only have to heat up one item. Can make with chicken too. I call an all inclusive meal.
Barbara
Get thick plastic trash bags in the right size for the bedside commode. Then buy a pack of "puppy pads" -- they are larger than needed, but can be folded to fit and are cheaper.