Susan gathered her Dad and his things at the hospital. He had broken his hip 2 weeks ago and was now discharged from care. While she had considered moving him to a full-time rehabilitation center while he received physical therapy she ultimately decided to have him come and stay with her. The cost of full-time care, as well as her Father’s desire to live with family were two factors in her decision. Susan, a long time Covington resident had always had an easy time filling her Father’s NKY prescriptions. Now she was hoping that the pharmacy could also provide her with NKY home health products as she prepared her house for her Dad’s arrival. She wasn’t yet sure exactly what she needed for him, although she had a few ideas. She decided to consult with the pharmacy to see what items they had available for her purchase. As she talked with them, and also thought about some of the suggestions the hospital nurses had offered, she came up with a list of very useful care products that just might make taking care of her Father a little easier. The following are suggestions from that list which may assist the son or daughter preparing to have an ill, injured, or aging parent come to stay with them.

4. Let the one receiving care have access to a walker of wheelchair. Even in the case of someone who seems unable or unwilling to be ambulatory, having access to transportation assistance is a sound idea. For example, both of these items can be a real help in transporting a patient even the short distance from a bedroom to the living room. And just perhaps, as the patient feels stronger over time, the promise of being able to go enjoy some sunshine might be just the incentive needed to encourage them to persevere through their discomfort.
5. Utilize the benefits of an adjustable hospital bed. Beds such as these are a blessing and relief to care-givers and patients alike. For the patient who is bed-ridden, being able to move the bed to a sitting position aids with meal time and gives a patient the chance for easier communication with any visitors who may stop by. Adjustable beds can be used by the patient without the help of the caregiver. The bed-ridden person can simply press a button to get just the right comfortable position.
6. Installing bath safety bars is a wonderful addition. When a person is recovering from illness or fall, they often require extra help in the bathroom. In fact, bathrooms are real high risk areas for the elderly in particular. Showering and toiletry can be very difficult to manage for one who is ill or injured. Bath safety bars can provide something solid to hold on to for the patient who is very unsteady on their feet. They can be used to assist someone attempting to independently complete their hygiene care. Best of all, they couldn’t be more simple to install.

Taking care of a parent, who is aged, ill, or injured is a stressful undertaking, but one many grown children do everyday. Fortunately, there are good products available to make care-giving a bit easier.