What are some special circumstances a caregiver may handle?

In some cases, a person’s needs or situation requires the expertise and training of a registered nurse or another professional caregiver. But with proper training and guidance, most home caregivers can learn to perform these tasks.

• Incontinence
  The inability to control the passage of urine or stool, is usually caused by an underlying disease or condition. Incontinence can be a major problem when caring for a patient. One way to deal with incontinence is to establish a toilet routine: encourage the person to use the toilet at frequent, regular intervals. Provide any necessary assistance promptly, to prevent accidents.
• Managing intravenous medications
  Some people need intravenous therapy, which is the infusion of nutrients or medication directly into the bloodstream. In a home-care setting, this treatment is usually provided by a visiting nurse who has been trained to perform the procedure.
• Risk of immobility
  Many people who are confined to bed develop problems related to immobility, which is a significant complication of many major illnesses. Heart rate, or pulse, is a good indicator of how well a person’s cardiovascular system can handle being out of bed.
• Respiratory function
  It’s important for a person who is confined to a bed to maintain good respiratory function. Encourage the person to do deep-breathing exercises and cough to expand his or her lungs and help prevent pneumonia. If the person develops symptoms including coughing, difficulty breathing, sputum that is green, gray, yellow, or brown, or develops a fever, he or she may have pneumonia. If you notice these symptoms, contact the doctor immediately.