We all want to feel good about ourselves. People who are sick often speak of wanting to keep their dignity. This is their sense of pride and of feeling good about themselves. People are helped when their caregivers do things that let them keep this sense of dignity. For example, it helps to let people take care of themselves as long as they can. This allows them to feel independent. They feel more in control when they make their own decisions and keep their own schedules for as long as possible.
Here are some other caregiver tips. Encourage the person you are caring for to:
- Keep on doing things he or she enjoys
- Eat well. This helps keep the person strong
- Stop smoking, drinking, and/or using street drugs
What to do when the person must stay in bed
People with advanced HIV disease or AIDS may have to stay in bed. When this is the case, special care must be given. You do not want the person to get bed sores, pneumonia, or sore joints. To avoid these, it helps to change his or her position in bed at least once every 4 hours. Help him or her to sit up in bed or on a chair if this is possible. The more movement, the better.
Help stop bedsores from happening
Bedsores can be a serious problem for people who must stay in bed, and especially for people who are seriously ill with HIV or AIDS. Along with changing the person’s position, there are some other things you can do to help:
- Put extra soft material, like "egg crate" foam, under the person to protect the skin
- Massage the places on the skin that touch the bed
- Keep the sheets dry and free from wrinkles
- Tell the healthcare provider if you see any skin redness or change of color
Helping with physical comfort
Here are some things you can do to help the person feel more comfortable:
- The person may have a hard time breathing. If so, raise his or her head or neck with pillows. If breathing trouble does not stop, call the healthcare provider right away
- Give the person a good back rub to help relieve stress
- Try to keep TV remotes, tissues, drinks, and other things within easy reach
- The person you are caring for may have sore joints. Arm, leg, hand, and foot exercises may help. Ask the healthcare provider or a physical therapist for suggestions
Giving emotional support
Often, taking care of the mind and spirit can be as important as taking care of the body. People who are in good spirits feel less stress and worry. When people feel good mentally, it can help them feel better physically. Here are ways we can emotionally support people we care for:
- Keep them involved in their care. Let them make decisions if they can
- If possible, let them help out with housework. Everyone likes having a sense of purpose. It can also be a good form of exercise
- Involve them in family or group talk about everyday things, such as the news, TV shows, and books
- Invite friends over when possible. You may want to ask friends not to visit if they are sick
- Take the person you care for out to different places as often as possible. People who are ill can feel trapped or cut off from the world
- Touch, hug, and kiss them. Affection can always help someone feel a little better
- If they need to talk about their health, talk with them about it. It may be hard to do it. But it can be much harder for them if they have no one to talk with about it
Next >> Taking care of the caregiver
