The equipment you select for safety will be based on the specific needs of the individual. Safety equipment include grab-bars, shower chairs, shower wheelchairs, transfer devices, and more. These not only ensure the safety of the patient, but also allows caregivers to properly bathe individuals or provide the opportunity for individuals to bathe themselves without supervision. Be on the lookout for these safety areas.

• Lighting in the bathroom is crucial, especially for those that have poor vision. Improve visibility by adding additional lighting, painting walls a light color, and using a clear shower curtain.
• “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Keep all items for bathing stored properly and within reach. This avoids overexertion if the individual is bathing themselves, and caregivers can avoid leaving the patient unattended. Properly stored accessories don’t become trip hazards, keeping walkways and floors safe.
• Use a handheld shower device to reach various parts of the body without needing to move or reposition.
• Prevent slipping inside the tub by applying tread strips or using a large bath mat.
• Prevent slipping outside the tub by installing grab-bars and adding a thin carpeting or a slip-resistant rug on the floor. Many types of flooring become very slippery when wet, so extra leverage, support, or friction can help prevent falls.
• Install an anti-scald device to keep water temperatures from getting too hot.
• Fixtures should be recessed or have rounded edges to decrease injuries from a fall.

Evaluate the accessibility of the shower or tub according to the individual’s needs and how the caregiver may be impacted; then adjust accordingly. If you need assistance in determining what shower equipment you need to keep bathing safe for both individuals and caregivers, please contact us today.

The post Creating a Safe Bathing Environment appeared first on KC Home Medical.

Wash Your Hands

Being a good in-home caretaker starts with maintaining personal cleanliness. Before you dress or care for any wound, you must make sure your hands, forearms, and any body part that will be around the wound site are properly cleaned. Simply washing thoroughly with soap and cleansers for thirty seconds is all that is needed to better avoid infection while dressing a wound. Make sure you wash under your nails and completely dry your hands before touching or dressing any wound.

Clean the Wound

Just as you would wash your hands, it is important to regularly clean the wound to reduce chances of infection and further problems. We offer a wide array of lotion and cleanser products for cleaning wound areas, many of which are vitamin-filled or formulated with aloe vera for healing and relief. These cleaners will not irritate the skin or wound, like many alcohol-based cleansers do. Be careful when drying a freshly cleaned wound, so you do not tear it open further or hurt the patient. A gentle pat down should be sufficient.

Regularly Change the Dressings

You will be changing the dressings and cleaning out the wound regularly. Unless the wound dressings become dirty or wet, change them per the doctor’s instructions. Changing the dressings before they become dirty and grimy allows the wound to heal properly and avoids the possibility of infections from poor hygienic upkeep.

Infection Signs

When cleaning and replacing dressings, it is not only important to avoid infection but also be on the lookout for it. Here are some basic signs that indicate the infection has taken place:

• pus
• swelling
• bleeding
• increased redness
• more pain than usual around wound site
• a high fever

Cleaning is essential for alleviating discomfort from any infected wound. However, if the infection escalates, medical attention will need to be sought or it may require medicine or surgery.

Help optimal healing, and avoid worsening situations. Contact us to learn more about properly dressing wounds and to see how our products will best help you and your patient in the recovery process.

The post Essential Home Safety Tips for Dressing Wounds appeared first on KC Home Medical.

According to the CDC, patients fail to take medication as prescribed 50% of the time! In patients with chronic diseases, the majority end up slacking on their medication routine after just six months. For one reason or another, they don’t stick with their prescribed treatment, forget to take their meds, or lapse into bad habits. Those bad habits can have life-threatening consequences.

It’s also important to follow all the directions prescribed. For example, if a label says to take medication in the morning, don’t try to take it at night instead. The body responds better to certain medications at different times of the day. If you remember your prescription but take it at the wrong time, the dose might lose its effectiveness. Likewise, if your doctor tells you to take a medication with food, pay attention and do as instructed, or else your body won’t absorb the medication as well on an empty stomach.

To make your medication habitual and part of your daily schedule, various medication aids are available, to prompt you to take specific dosages at the right times. Incorporate these into your day-to-day procedures, so medicine can work, alleviate, and heal as intended:

• Integrate your medication into your routine. For example, tell yourself you’ll take your medication when you brush your teeth in the morning, or when you eat breakfast. It’ll become natural practice in your daily sequential actions.
• Use a pill container. You can tell at a glance if you’ve taken your doses for the day or not. There are many types of containers available to suit your needs. You can find containers that hold a week’s worth of medication, or even a whole month’s worth. Many have different compartments for different times of day (morning, noon, evening, bedtime, etc.), so you can keep track of timed doses more easily. All it takes is a little planning and pre-organization to ensure you stay on track for medication.
• Set an alarm. A talking alarm clock can give you a verbal message to take your pills. Use as many alarms as you need to cover all your daily doses, then go about your day with one less worry.
• Refill your pill containers at the same time each week or month. Remember to also plan ahead if you’re going on vacation. Bring enough medication to cover you while you’re away, with a few extra doses in case of emergency.

At KC Home Medical Supply, we offer medication aids to help you remember to take your medication exactly on time and as directed. Find the ones that suit your needs, and contact us for more information or guidance.

The post How to Safely Take Your Medication on Time appeared first on KC Home Medical.

The volume of information we see and hear on a daily basis regarding the Covid-19 pandemic can be overwhelming.  It has become increasingly difficult for the general public to determine what is relevant to know for the protection of their families.  Guidelines for the public from agencies such as the CDC and the WHO are fairly consistent and can be utilized as a trustworthy reference.  These sources have stated that the use of facial coverings, efficient hand washing habits, and social distancing are the primary means of defense for the public.  The guidelines for healthcare workers are more comprehensive due to the higher risk of exposure.  It is understandable that those working on the front lines require more protection than the majority of the population.  However, for those at home, or working in an essential yet non-clinical capacity, the desire for protection and diagnostic information is at an all time high.  The following are some helpful sources of information on how you can best protect yourself and your loved ones.

• Center for Disease Control  https://www.cdc.gov/
• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/
• Johns Hopkins University https://www.jhu.edu/
• Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/

As a retail provider of medical equipment, KC Home Medical Supply has been fielding unprecedented requests for PPE or personal protective equipment from both the public and health care providers alike. While our suppliers have been able to intermittently provide us with PPE for public distribution, in order to extend our availability of supplies we have had to limit the quantity of some items sold per customer. Below are the items that are in the highest demand. Please call one of our three locations and we can advise you on the availability of our current stock. We are currently taking phone orders and providing curbside service at all locations.  Due to high volume of requests we are unable to maintain a waiting list for any of the following products, but look forward to speaking with you about all your home health care needs:.

• Masks
• Gloves
• Disposable Gowns
• Thermometers
• Oxygen Saturation Meters
• Disinfectant Wipes and Sprays
• Nebulizers
• Alcohol Prep Pads 
• Hand Sanitizer

The post Personal Protective Equipment appeared first on KC Home Medical.