Family caregivers provide a much-needed service to those who cannot care for themselves. Whether it’s an elderly loved one or a family member recovering from surgery, the burden on the family caregiver can be heavy. Often times, in-home help is necessary for providing care and relieving stress.
And although in-home caregivers can be incredibly beneficial to family members who are required to step in as nursing aids, some may not be available around the clock. In those instances, the following advice can be invaluable:
“Before changing any wound dressing, be sure that you are working on a clean work surface with sterile instruments and cleansed hands,” say the editors at TCPalm, a media outlet in southern Florida. “This will help prevent bacterial infections, impeding the health of the wound. After cleaning the work area, take out any supplies from their packages you might need such as medical tape, gauze, and dressings. Then put on your gloves and proceed to take off the top dressing from the wound.”
The editors also explained that when removing the top dressing from the wound, it’s best to place one hand on the skin and with the other hand, pull the tape off towards the wound. Inner packing on the wound will also need to be removed. A physician, of course, can also provide special instructions, if needed, to remove the inner packing. Finally, it’s important to remember that soiled dressings and gloves should be disposed of in a sealed plastic bag and kept away from children and pets.
“When re-packing the wound, be sure to start with a new pair of gloves,” the editors said. “If the wound requires inner packing, ask your physician for any special instructions for the inner packing. For the outer dressing, take the gauze by the corners and place over the wound. Use four strips of tape to seal each edge of the gauze.”
Throughout the entire caregiving process, family members must remember how important it is to maintain constant communication with a doctor and especially so in the case of infections or complications.
