My wife has been "in bed" for the last 21 months--I prefer that expression to "bed-ridden." She is still doing well. I agree that a full body tube would be difficult to handle and liable to break. However, the small tube in which to wash her hair works well and leads to a good wash, soap and rinse.
Also, not connected to washing but important for body care, she has had a masseur come to the home and give her legs, arms and shoulders an hour and a quarter massage. She has also begun exercising her legs herself; and a test showed that her arteries were in good condition at the age of 83. Caregivers who come in can also give a massage once they have watched the professional do it.
It is possible for those in bed all the time to be reasonably content as long as those around them are also content and communicate to them that they are NOT doing anything wrong because are in bed and incontinent. Having a really good bed (in England, it's the AirProPlus bed) that moves up and down, with sides, with a rubber mattress that fills and unfills with air every 20 minutes is essential. This prevents bedsores/pressure points. Bedsores can be treated with MediHoney that works well, but they do need to be watched carefully.
Prayers and hopes for a purpose-full life, both for those in bed and out
When I was recovering from surgery, the nurses used some kind of a "wash" that was not soap but like foam. They rubbed it all over me and then just dried it off. It seemed to work fine.
The blowup tub would probably pop if we tried it and it sounds like it would be great deal of effort and time trying to place person in the tub. I do a sponge bath for my mother. Two basins with nice warm water in one and the other with warm water and a gentle body wash such as Honest. I wash her hair with a wet face cloth with the honest soap, and rinse then proceed to washing her whole body. She is just as clean and perhaps cleaner with the sponge bath. Too difficult for her to stand in the shower so we only shower her on occasion. We also use on occasion a shampoo cap, it is rinse free and does a great job, I microwave the cap less than 30 sec and make sure it is not too hot then put it on her head and massage for about 1-2 minutes. Single use only. Hair is clean and smells nice too. This works well for us and my mother is clean as a whistle
I am lucky enough to have a shower with no edge to step over so I would use the Hoyer Lift and get my Husband onto the shower wheelchair and he would have a nice shower. BUT it came time when even with the Hoyer, the shower chair and an easily accessible shower, his trunk strength just made it unsafe and we did "bed baths". The CNA from Hospice was by that time in 3 times a week, she would do an amazing job with the bed bath I did pretty good myself the rest of the time. And as much as he loved the showers I think it became exhausting for him the bed baths were just as relaxing. If you are getting the person clean and they are safe there really is no need to sit in a tub of water. The important things are Clean, then Dry and what is also important that some people forget is the contact. So often we don't think about the touch when we are bathing someone but (as long as this is not someone that is fighting a bath) take time, be calm, don't be rushed. When the CNA started with us she would tell my Husband everything she was going to do she continued this with the bed baths telling him where she was going to touch next. What parts of his body she was not bathing were covered to keep him warm and also respect/privacy. When you are done use some moisturizing cream where you can, apply barrier cream where you can. Even a light massage when putting the lotion on. (heavier barrier cream is easier to put on by patting it on not rubbing it in)
I have heard of these blow up tubs before. You lay them flat on the bed uninflated and situate the subject onto it like you do when changing sheets for an immobile patient.
Once they are in position, you inflate the tube (like a pool life raft) then fill it with water. I was told that filling and emptying the water is done same as a blowup shampoo tub though I'm not familiar with those.
I know when my mom had bathers, her favorite lady had a home made shampoo tub that she easily managed all by herself using a tub, a tube and a bucket. She was amazing as are most every home health aide we've ever had.
The very most important thing to remember is that aging skin is very delicate and easily damaged. No hard scrubbing. Clean very very gently and use an antibacterial and or disinfecting soap that is very gentle. Also, it is important to change to clean bedding with each bathing.Most so called bedsores are caused by tiny almost invisible breaks in skin. Bacteria, viruses, and or fungi enter these tiny wounds and cause terrible difficult to treat infection.
The remark about caring for the skin is critical. I have cellulitis on both shins which measure about 4" wide by 10" long and appears like raw hamburger. It seeps fluid quite a bit. I have been fighting to keep it from spreading on my legs, etc. The medical staff and family have me in hospice with End Stage COPD for 18 months, and fighting the cellulitis and other skin problems with antibiotics, steroids, lasix, antibiotics, for over 11 months. Just keep praying for me and others on caring for me, and others on forum. Praying for you and yours.
As an RN, we don't use the pricey stuff for our bedridden patients. It is always a sponge bath. I recommend mild soap - not antibacterial soap since if leaves a film on the skin that can be harsh. Always use a damp cloth to get all soap off. Dry well and apply skin lotion. I like to put a large towel in the dryer before bathing and put it over the person. I wash face first, then arms and chest. move onto back, then legs and lastly bottom. If they can help, I ask them to wash whatever they can reach - good stretching and mobility exercise. Hair can be a different matter. Try dry shampoo. There are "baby tub" type basins where a person can get their hair washed - shampoo and water - while reclining and the water drains into a bucket on the floor through a hose. Your loved one needs to be very cooperative for this.
If your loved one can sit on a commode, they can sit in a shower chair. If you go with a shower chair, get one with a back and preferably arms. The plastic ones are easier to clean than the pricey teak ones. I like to make sure the shower room is nice and toasty and have a warm towel ready to dry my loved one off.
Most folks can get away with an airplane bath - under the wings (armpits) and tail (bottom) - daily. A complete bath every couple of days and hair at least weekly. However, bacteria grow at the same rate on young or older skin. I recommend daily bathing of all body parts as much as possible.
In regards to bedsores, several factors can keep people from getting these pressure wounds: good hydration, good nutrition, good hygiene, good mobility (changes positions at least every 2 hours), good blood circulation and good oxygenation. Everything except the last 2 can be addressed easily at home.
I learned a lot from a CNA from almost a couple years ago. Here's a YouTube video that might give you ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcaiMHduqPc
There are a lot of videos how how to do many tasks for bed-bound patients and how to do things safely for them AND for you. Make sure you protect your own physical health and not get hurt!
Also, not connected to washing but important for body care, she has had a masseur come to the home and give her legs, arms and shoulders an hour and a quarter massage. She has also begun exercising her legs herself; and a test showed that her arteries were in good condition at the age of 83. Caregivers who come in can also give a massage once they have watched the professional do it.
It is possible for those in bed all the time to be reasonably content as long as those around them are also content and communicate to them that they are NOT doing anything wrong because are in bed and incontinent. Having a really good bed (in England, it's the AirProPlus bed) that moves up and down, with sides, with a rubber mattress that fills and unfills with air every 20 minutes is essential. This prevents bedsores/pressure points. Bedsores can be treated with MediHoney that works well, but they do need to be watched carefully.
Prayers and hopes for a purpose-full life, both for those in bed and out
If you are getting the person clean and they are safe there really is no need to sit in a tub of water.
The important things are Clean, then Dry and what is also important that some people forget is the contact. So often we don't think about the touch when we are bathing someone but (as long as this is not someone that is fighting a bath) take time, be calm, don't be rushed. When the CNA started with us she would tell my Husband everything she was going to do she continued this with the bed baths telling him where she was going to touch next. What parts of his body she was not bathing were covered to keep him warm and also respect/privacy. When you are done use some moisturizing cream where you can, apply barrier cream where you can. Even a light massage when putting the lotion on. (heavier barrier cream is easier to put on by patting it on not rubbing it in)
Once they are in position, you inflate the tube (like a pool life raft) then fill it with water. I was told that filling and emptying the water is done same as a blowup shampoo tub though I'm not familiar with those.
I know when my mom had bathers, her favorite lady had a home made shampoo tub that she easily managed all by herself using a tub, a tube and a bucket. She was amazing as are most every home health aide we've ever had.
I have cellulitis on both shins which measure about 4" wide by 10" long and appears like raw hamburger. It seeps fluid quite a bit. I have been fighting to keep it from spreading on my legs, etc. The medical staff and family have me in hospice with End Stage COPD for 18 months, and fighting the cellulitis and other skin problems with antibiotics, steroids, lasix, antibiotics, for over 11 months.
Just keep praying for me and others on caring for me, and others on forum.
Praying for you and yours.
rev mike
West Virginia
4-30-2020
If your loved one can sit on a commode, they can sit in a shower chair. If you go with a shower chair, get one with a back and preferably arms. The plastic ones are easier to clean than the pricey teak ones. I like to make sure the shower room is nice and toasty and have a warm towel ready to dry my loved one off.
Most folks can get away with an airplane bath - under the wings (armpits) and tail (bottom) - daily. A complete bath every couple of days and hair at least weekly. However, bacteria grow at the same rate on young or older skin. I recommend daily bathing of all body parts as much as possible.
In regards to bedsores, several factors can keep people from getting these pressure wounds: good hydration, good nutrition, good hygiene, good mobility (changes positions at least every 2 hours), good blood circulation and good oxygenation. Everything except the last 2 can be addressed easily at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcaiMHduqPc
There are a lot of videos how how to do many tasks for bed-bound patients and how to do things safely for them AND for you. Make sure you protect your own physical health and not get hurt!
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