Question

Module 7: Providing Basic Care Review 1. 5. Describe three or more safety precautions when assisting residents in bathing. Explain the use of bedpans, urinals, fracture pans, and bedside commodes. 2. Describe foot care. What is impaction, and what are the symptoms? 3. 7. Explain three or more ways to avoid skin injuries. Describe bowel and bladder training programs 8. List five or more pressure points. 4. How does aging affect the digestive system?

Answer 1

ANSWER 1: The following are the safety precautions when assisting residents in bathing.

1) Use a bath seat or chair while assisting in showering/bathing as this reduces the chances of fall and the residents don't get tired of standing.
2) Make sure that all the bathroom supplies like shampoo, towels, shower cap are all in reach of the resident or the caregiver in order to avoid unnecessary movement in or out of the bathroom.
3) Make sure the feet of the resident is dried off properly before going out of the bathroom in order to prevent any slipping/falling.
4) Make sure the temperature of the shower water is appropriate by checking it on the back of your hand in order to prevent burns or extreme cold.

ANSWER 2: Foot care is defined as the care & assessment done for the lower extremities, toes, nails and including cutting/trimming nails, removing calluses and checking for mobility and movement.

ANSWER 3: The following are the ways to prevent skin injuries:

1) Wear gloves while handling any toxic chemicals or hot appliances so as to prevent burns on hand in case of spilling.
2) Keep changing positions frequently in order to avoid any pressure sore and ultimately skin breakdown.
3) Take regular baths and maintain good personal hygiene in order to prevent any skin infections.
4) Wearing slippers while going out of the house will prevent any skin injuries to the feet/lower extremities.

ANSWER 4: The following are the pressure points:

1) Coccyx/Sacrum
2) Heels
3) Elbows
4) Ankles
5) Occipital region/ Back of head
6) Shoulder blades/Scapula

ANSWER 5:

• BEDPAN- These are used by bed ridden patients in a healthcare or home faility to open their bowels. Women prefer bedpans for both bowel movement as well as for urinating.
• URINALS: It is used by male patients who have restricted mobility to urinate while in bed.
• FRACTURE PANS: A fracture pan is comparatively smaller than a normal bed pan and is also used for toileting purpose but specifically made for patients with fractures/paralysis/amputations.
• BEDSIDE COMMODE: It's a commode chair and used by patients who cannot walk till the bathroom because of any weakness or other ailment. This commode is designed like a chair with a pot underneath and can be removed & cleaned after the patient has used it.
  
  ANSWER 6: Impaction is defined as a large mass/amount of stool that is stuck in the rectum. It usually happens in people who are constipated for a long period of time. The symptoms include Abdominal cramps, Stool Leakage, Nausea, Continuous feeling of using the toilet.
  
  ANSWER 7: BOWEL TRAINING PROGRAM- This involves training people the timely use of toilet for opening their bowels specially for those who have chronic constipation or no control over the bowel spinchters. This also includes making changes in the dietary habits so as to prevent further constipation.
  BLADDER TRAINING PROGRAM- This is helpful in patients with urinary incontinence including leakage and urgency. Kegel exercises is an important part of this training program. Patients are taught to maintain a diary of their voiding habits and to only use the toilet at defined times.

ANSWER 8: Ageing affects the digestive system in various ways since new tissues cells are not forming as quickly as it does in younger people, it makes the older people more susceptible to digestion problems. These includes constipation, ulcers, bloating, diarrhea, Piles or hemorrhoids. Also, with ageing, many other problems/diseases emerge which makes the digestive system to suffer and thus causes another lot of problems.