Bedridden elderly patients require special care. In order to prolong the life of a loved one and make it as best as possible, it is necessary to monitor all physiological processes around the clock, including taking into account the dietary habits for bedridden patients.

Features of the diet of bedridden patients.

Often, older people who are bedridden due to various diseases have tangible digestive problems. Low mobility or complete immobility causes disturbance of intestinal peristalsis. Often in a bedridden patient against the background of the disease, a suppressed emotional state prevails, there is no appetite and the processes associated with swallowing food are disturbed. It is important that his diet consists of nutritious foods that allow him to recuperate.. The ideal option would be the development of a menu for a bed patient by the staff of the patronage service..

When eating, an elderly person needs to eat an amount of food that can restore his daily energy consumption. Eating should be balanced and regular, even if the bedridden refuses to eat. It is especially important that the patient eats exclusively fresh foods so as not to aggravate his condition..

List of must-have foods.

Feeding bedridden patients is a very responsible event, in which a balanced menu is important.. It is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the body, however, there is a list of products that must be present in the diet of bedridden patients:.

¦Protein food. Protein is essential for bedridden older adults to obtain amino acids. They contribute to the restoration of various body tissues. Protein is found in high amounts in foods such as fish, chicken, red meat, and turkey. There is also sufficient protein in legumes, dairy products, and eggs..

¦ Food with a specific calorie content. It is very important to monitor the calorie content of foods so that the bedridden patient does not gain extra pounds. At the same time, a small amount of calories in food can also lead to disastrous results.. Ideal in terms of calorie content are vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, diet meats and various cereals.. Liquid food is especially useful for bedridden, for example, whole grain cereals with milk.

¦Healthy fats. The presence of unsaturated fats in the diet is the key to normal functioning of the cardiovascular system and the brain. They are rich in foods such as salmon, sardines, flaxseed oil and cod.. It is worth remembering that most of these products can cause an allergic reaction, therefore, their presence in the menu should be discussed with a doctor..

¦Foods fortified with vitamins and minerals. The lack of nutrients in the menu negatively affects all organs and systems of a bed patient. The diet must include foods fortified with zinc and iron.. These substances help accelerate the healing of pressure ulcers and normalize hemoglobin.. Bedridden patients who eat poorly and refuse food are recommended to give additional special vitamin complexes.

¦ Sufficient liquid. Water balance is very important for elderly bedridden patients. To comply with it, you must give a person a sufficient amount of water, weak tea, freshly squeezed juice and homemade compotes.. It is not recommended to give coffee to a sick person, so as not to provoke problems with blood pressure or heart..

Even if the bedridden patient before his illness preferred to consume harmful foods, it is better to completely abandon them.. It is necessary to completely abandon chips, crackers, chemical sauces and ketchups, smoked meats and fast food.. A person caring for a bedridden patient needs to ensure that the food is as useful as possible, and not vice versa..

Proper nutrition of the patient: the main difficulties.

In some cases, the patient can no longer swallow on his own and eat solid food. Even chewing ground food becomes an overwhelming task.. Another serious problem is dysphagia, or disorder of the swallowing reflex.. It is then that a variety of nutritional mixtures come to the aid of loved ones.. You can not take the first mixture that catches your eye and use it - a doctor's recommendation is a prerequisite for using this product. Nutrition with mixtures, depending on the patient's condition, can be carried out from a spoon from a special sippy cup or from an ordinary baby bottle.

In cases where feeding through the mouth can be fatal, for example, if food falls out of the mouth or remains in the patient's throat during feeding, a tube is used. Thus, all the necessary substances enter the body..

Care for elderly bedridden patients in boarding houses.

Caring for elderly bedridden patients is hard daily work, and not every family can handle it. Many relatives reproach themselves even for the thought that it is easier and easier to take a sick old man to a specialized boarding house than to take care of him.. However, some modern nursing services and boarding houses are ready to give the bedridden much more than family care..

Unlike loved ones who have no experience and skills, the nursing home provides professional care for bedridden patients.. A specially selected diet, the ability to look after the patient around the clock and the availability of the necessary medicines at hand are the main advantages of staying bedridden old people in boarding houses. However, it is important to select an institution, which provides for feeding the patient by a nurse, depending on his needs and requirements..

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