It sounds as if the nursing home may be trying to decrease the use of restraints. A geri chair is a restraint because it limits a person’s ability to move or get out of the chair. Any type of restraint has drawbacks that can result in serious injuries. However, some people feel a sense of comfort when sitting in a geri chair verses sitting in a w…[Read more]

Crushing medications for those who have difficulty swallowing is a common practice in health care. However, there are cautions that must be considered when crushing medications. For example, some medications may interact with each other by either having an additive effect or causing less absorption of another. Others may release a large amount of…[Read more]

Assisting with dental care such as brushing with a person who has dementia can be quite challenging. The first thing to consider is to keep the person functioning at a high a level as they can. If your mom can brush her teeth on her own, let her do it. Stay by her to make sure she does do thorough brushing. If she needs assistance, you may brush…[Read more]

A paraflush is a great way to assist with bowel movements problems. It is intended for use by paraplegics, quadiplegics, as well as anyone else who needs assistance with bowel movements. The alternative to a paraflush is medications such as stool softeners and laxatives with a manual stimulation to stimulate the bowel to move. Thus, the need for…[Read more]