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A caregiver’s job is not easy and comes with many responsibilities, such as medication, nutrition, dressing, sleep, mobility, emotional stress, and much more. Looking after a patient can be like caring for an infant, and as at-home caregiving becomes more common, more and more family members take on these responsibilities.
Emotionally it can be much easier on the patient since they tend to be more comfortable with family members than an outside caregiver. But after a while, caregiving may take a toll on those providing care and affects them physically and emotionally.
There are certain conditions where the patient may require care only for some months, only when there is discomfort, or in case of a life-long medical condition. For example, muscle sprain, sports injury, ligament tear, tissue injury, stiff muscles, arthritis, speech, cognitive disorders, etc.
Let us take a look at the different sets of therapies available to treat these conditions:
Heat therapy increases the blood flow and the temperature of the affected area. It soothes discomfort and improves flexibility. There are two kinds of heat – dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat involves using heat packs or heating pads, whereas moist heat therapy includes steamed towels and moist heat packs. Heat therapy should not be used for bruises and swelling.
Cold therapy, on the contrary, reduces the blood flow to the affected area. It helps reduce swelling and inflammation and provides pain relief. Treatment options include ice packs, frozen gel packs, coolant spray, and ice baths. People with sensory disorders, diabetes, stiff muscles, stiff joints, and poor circulation should avoid using cold therapy.
Electrotherapy involves using electrical energy to treat various medical conditions. It is mainly used in therapy for muscle spasms, increasing blood circulation, muscle stimulation, and venous thrombosis. It is also helpful in severe neck and back pain, shoulder pain, and other musculoskeletal pain. This form of therapy also helps in the wound-healing process.
Hydrotherapy uses water as a means of treating medical conditions. It is also referred to as water therapy, pool therapy, aquatic therapy, or balneotherapy. This form of treatment also includes using ice packs and pressurized jets. It is beneficial in pain, stiffness, bruises, swelling, muscle pain, menstrual pain, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's, etc.
Speech therapy aids in communication and speech problems. It helps with developmental delays in children and communication problems caused by injury or a medical issue in adults. Speech therapy also helps people who have a problem hearing or swallowing.
Other therapy forms include paraffin, magnetic, and light therapy.
5 Best Products For At-Home Caregiving
Rehab Store has a vast array of products to assist with these therapies for at-home caregiving. Some of our bestsellers are:
Made of durable polyurethane material with a long shelf life. This pack can be used hundreds of times and will still not burst like normal ice packs. It is flexible and conforms to your body.
A convenient way of providing effective pain relief to users. Recommended by most doctors, this pack is user-friendly and comes with three temperature settings.
An all-in-one electrotherapy device. It sends electric signals through electrodes that are attached to the skin and help relieve pain. This unit can be operated with buttons, making it user-friendly.
This rehabilitation system helps restore jaw mobilization for people with trismus or mandibular hypomobility. It helps improve the quality of life by enabling the user to talk, eat, laugh, brush teeth, etc., with regular usage. This device is available for adults and kids.
It tones abdominal muscles and provides support and strength to the lower back. Its cell foam build suspends the body in the water for a low-impact workout. It is unisex and suitable for average-shaped women and lightweight men.
As a caregiver, it is very important to make sure to take care of yourself too. The more relaxed you are, the better care you will be able to provide. It is natural to feel physically and emotionally worn out while caring for a loved one. Seek help and share some caregiving duties with family members if you feel overwhelmed, tired, anxious, or depressed.
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