Bedroom

Making Bedrooms Comfortable

+ RISKS, ISSUES AND NEEDS

Bedroom is the place for comfortable rest and peaceful sleep. Yet often seniors and differently abled individuals face certain difficulties in bedroom. Limited mobility due to Arthritis, spinal pain or injury, fracture, sprains and other musculoskeletal disorders or neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, Ataxia etc. can make it difficult to get up or out of bed. Often doctors advise complete bed rest for elderly adults following a stroke, cardiac arrest or a surgery. If the bedroom floor is highly polished (marble, granite, vitrified tiles etc.), seniors with impaired walking and individuals with cerebral palsy stand the risk of accidental slips and falls unless certain precautions are taken. Insomnia, stress, anxiety, sleep apnea are disorders that might interfere with a sound sleep which is essential for good health. Often seniors suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence or may have mobility constraint to use the toilet, which may lead to wetting or soiling of the bed.

+ WHAT CAN BE DONE?

For seniors with Paraplegia or Quadriplegia or who have been advised complete bed rest, using buckwheat hull pillow and adjustable back rest can maintain better posture while ensuring comfort. For support during walking or moving around the bedroom, walkers or walking sticks can be useful for you. Heated underblankets help in pain relief in cold temperature.To prevent accidental falls, the bedroom floor should be treated with anti-slip floor polish or anti-slip tapes may be used. At night, keeping solar lamps at corners of the bedroom or using glow in the dark anti-slip tapes will help those with limited vision to answer bathroom urgencies. Adult diapers are useful for patients with incontinence. If someone is uncomfortable to use diapers, underpads can be placed on bed to prevent wetting. Bed pans and folding commode chairs will help to address toilet needs at any time without leaving the bedroom. If you are a caregiver, you might help in feeding your loved one using easy grip cutlery and tasty plate; and maintain the proper medication schedule with a weekly pill planner, especially for post surgical recovery. Despite limitations in moving the hand, you can still pursue your hobbies in leisure time, thanks to assistive aids like free hand document holder, playing card holder, ergonomic crochet hook, long loom and round loom, contour pen etc. Aktive reachers will be helpful to reach for any object nearby without the need to get down from the bed. Often obesity becomes an issue for seniors who spend most of the time in bed.The digital weighing scale can help you in weight management. Listening to soft, soothing classical music, spiritual music or chants can provide you a sense of calm and relaxation, that promotes your overall well being. Nebuliser and steam vaporiser can help in reducing sleep apnea or provide relief in cold & cough. Soft foam ear plugs are useful for light sleepers and insomniacs. Music therapy through Indian Classical Music or sleep meditation techniques can also help in a peaceful sleep.