Try: Place a waterproof mattress cover or shower liner on the bed place a fitted sheet on the bed and smooth out any wrinkles fold a queen sized flat sheet to be used as pull sheet in quarters and center it on the bed so that the top edge of the folded sheet is at the cr’s ear level and the bottom edge is above the knees place a water proof bed pad or disposable paper pad on top of the pull sheet and position it under the cr’s waist and thigh area

Materials: Waterproof mattress cover or shower liner disposable paper pads or waterproof bed pad bed linens including additional queen sized flat sheet pillows 4-5 use as needed

Categories: Sage, Topic, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile

Information: n/a

References: oxygen use and care of equipment by head to toe care llc 2009 available at

Keywords: Bedbound turning pull sheet bed

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Try to find someone who can do the shopping and meal preparation for the cr look into home delivery services many grocery stores have delivery services that can be accessed via the telephone or internet find a friend neighbor teen or college student who would be willing to shop for the cr for pay or in exchange for some other service that you or the cr could provide consider hiriing a housemate or companion who would be willing to do the grocery shopping cooking and other tasks

Materials: n/a

Categories: Maintenance, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from the internet website www helpguide org senior nutrition the joy of eating wel and aging well by sarah kovatch and gina kemp 2011

Keywords: Malnutrition diet nutrition

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The physical changes of old age can affect the cr cr’s ability to drive encourage the cr to try the following to improve or maintain driving ability switch to a car that is easier for older individuals to drive for example automatic transmission power steering large mirrors minimal blind spots and easy to get in and out of exercise on a regular basis to improve muscle tone and reaction time make regular visits to the eye doctor to get the vison tested glasses or contact lenses may be needed for safe driving reduce travel at night time if there is difficulty with vision wear glasses if they are required for driving remind the cr that it may be illegal to drive without them get hearing checked by an audiologist on a regular basis hearing aids may be needed to drive safely

Materials: n/a

Categories: Maintenance, Medical Physical, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, So-So Vision, Poor Vision, So-So Hearing, Poor Hearing

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from the aging care website www agingcare com

Keywords: Driving

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Eat a well balanced diet eat light meals avoid a lot of carbohydrates in the middle of the day make sure cr is eating enough protein make sure cr gets a good night’s sleep drink plenty of water throughout the day go for a brisk walk or go swimming stay busy during the winter months

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: useful tips to overcoming lethargy by trevor johnson 2009 available at

Keywords: Lethargic no energy tired sluggish exercise diet nutrition dehydration

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Pat the area clean after bowel movements with pads soaked in witch hazel cranesbill aloe vera or apple vinegar this is good both for cleaning and to dry and soothe the area

Materials: Soft wiping pads witch hazel cranesbill aloe vera or apple vinegar

Categories: Sage, Topic, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: hemorrhoids home remedies – for fast hemroid relief as well as for cure available at

Keywords: Hemorrhoids butt pain butt hurts toileting toilet paper

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Try adding a bit of oatmeal powder to the bath water avoid using harsh cleansers or other additives

Materials: Oatmeal powder

Categories: Sage, Topic, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: hemorrhoids home remedies – for fast hemroid relief as well as for cure available at

Keywords: Hemorrhoids butt pain butt hurts bathing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Use a small sitz bath that fits over the toilet available from a pharmacy this may make sitz-bath relief more convenient on a daily basis

Materials: Small sitz bath that fits over the toilet

Categories: Sage, Topic, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: hemorrhoids home remedies – for fast hemroid relief as well as for cure available at

Keywords: Hemorrhoids butt pain butt hurts bathing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If possible take the cr on a trip to the grocery store and ask for his or her help in selecting anything that looks good if a trip to the store isn’t possible many grocery stores have online websites where you can view foods and order your groceries to be delivered help the cr select groceries from the site show the cr cookbooks with pictures and recipes to discover if something sounds good if the cr stops eating completely make sure he or she is drinking plenty of fluids and drinking a nutritional food supplement alert family members and physicians if the cr’s lack of appetite continues

Materials: Computer with internet connection cookbooks recipes fluids drinks with nutritional food supplements

Categories: Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Appetite aversion food feeding menu recipe

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If the cr is requesting different foods help him or her find recipes out of cookbooks and menus that sound good consider watching a cooking show on tv together and write down the recipes that are enticing help the cr construct a grocery list shop for food and prepare meals after the meal write down on the recipe whether the cr liked it or not also make notes on the recipe if any changes are needed for example less salt more meat substitute canned mushrooms for fresh etc make lists of the salads main courses side dishes and desserts that the cr likes along with a note as to where the recipe is located cook book page number recipe file etc put the lists in a notebook and refer to them in planning future meals with the cr add to the lists as you go along and try new recipes this can be a fun activity with the cr and before long you will have many new and different ideas for meals that the cr will enjoy

Materials: Cookbooks menus cooking show on tv pen pencil and paper notebook grocery list

Categories: Maintenance

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Appetite aversion food feeding menu recipe

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Make the screen resolution more cr friendly right click on the desktop and then click properties then select settings and change the resolution contrast changes can also increase readability right click on the desktop and then click properties click on the appearance tab select an appearance that fits the cr try the classic windows look and see how it works note for windows 7 simply right clicking and selecting graphic properties brings up many of these options or click on start then control panel and then optimize visual display

Materials: Computer windows operating system

Categories: Maintenance, Social, So-So Vision, Poor Vision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Computer vision

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed