MANAGE SYMPTOMS
MANAGE SYMPTOMS
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INFECTIONS • Read the prior section on safety for ways you can help reduce some of the chances of infections. • Many illnesses and some treatments can make it much easier for a patient to get an infection. • Your Care Team will wash their hands or use hand sanitizers when visiting. They will wear gloves when giving care to the patient. They will keep their equipment and supplies clean. They will not knowingly visit when they are sick. CALL YOUR CARE TEAM IF: • Patient develops an increased cough with spitting up sputum or mucus. • Patient develops a sore throat, colored mucus in nose or throat, or red, itchy eyes with crust on the eyelashes. • Patient develops new red, streaked, puffy, or warm areas on skin. • Patient’s skin, cuts, or wounds begin to drain. • Patient’s urine begins to smell bad or look cloudy. • Dressings on skin or places where tubes or needles enter the skin begin to look ir - ritated, red, swollen, wet, or smell bad. • Patient develops a fever over 101 degrees.
PAIN Your Care Team is skilled at evaluating pain and treating pain. You will hear them ask the patient about pain very often. We want the patient to be as comfortable as possible. Controlling pain can help im- prove quality of life for the patient and ease the caregiving burden. Four Seasons values life and does not use pain medications or any other treatment to shorten life. Only the person having pain can de- scribe what it is like. Here are descriptions of physical pain: • Mild, moderate, or severe: Your Care Team will often ask the patient for a “score” to rate the pain. ‘0’ means no pain, and ‘10’ is the worst pain. The patient is the only one who can give an accurate number to their pain. • Sharp, dull, aching, stabbing, throbbing, hot, burning, needles, gnawing, cramping, etc. For people who may have a hard time describing their pain, such as children or patients with dementia, you may see changes in their actions if they are in pain, such as: • Comes on very fast, or slowly builds up. • Constant, or comes and goes. • Worse with activity, or increases if staying still. • Occurs any place in the body, or in many places in the body.
• Acting cranky, grouchy, or irritable • Wanting to be left alone, or covering up like they are trying to sleep
• Fidgeting, restless movements, pacing • Crying, moaning, or frowning • Curling up, rocking back and forth, or holding onto a part of their body
NAUSEA AND VOMITING Nausea and vomiting are common problems. Medical treatments, medications, anxiety, or the illness itself can cause nausea or vomiting.
How to help: • Watch for the above signs and ask the patient if they are uncomfortable. • Give medications as ordered by the medical provider. Your nurse will explain when and how much to use pain medications. • It is important to give pain medications before the pain becomes severe. It takes much less time and medi- cine to get mild or moderate pain under control than for severe pain. • Pain medications may be “long-acting” or “short-acting.” • Long-acting types are ordered to take on a regular schedule with the goal of preventing pain. • Short-acting medications are often ordered when the pain begins to increase. • Your nurse will clearly explain what types and how to use the pain medications ordered. • Change the patient’s position in their chair or bed. • Ask the patient if something warm or cool over the painful area sounds comforting. • Turn on soothing music or quiet the room depending on the patient’s preferences. • Dim lights. • Your Care Team will be able to offer other suggestions, like massage, relaxation exercises, or music therapy to reduce pain.
• Limit movement when feeling nauseated, queasy, or sick to the stomach. • Rest and avoid rapid changes in position. • Take medications to prevent or treat nausea at least 30 minutes before eating or taking other medications. • Turn the patient to their side to prevent choking with vomiting. • Slowly sip ginger ale, peppermint or ginger tea, or suck on a peppermint candy if choking is not a risk. • Drink only clear fluids (drinks you can see through) for at least 24 hours. Some good options are ginger ale, apple juice, Sprite or 7-Up, sports drinks like Gatorade, popsicles, broth, Jello, etc. • Slowly begin eating small amounts of a BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast (plain). • Rinse mouth thoroughly after vomiting. Use a watered-down mouthwash or brush teeth if pos- sible.
• Avoid: • Eating sooner than two (2) hours after vomiting • Heavy or fatty meals • Lying down after eating • Drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, soda, or black tea • Strong smells
CALL YOUR CARE TEAM IF: • Nausea or vomiting is a new symptom. • Vomiting does not stop even when only drinking clear liquids. • Vomit is bright red or dark brown (like coffee grounds). • The patient is having trouble swallowing.
Common side effects from pain medications: • Dry mouth • Drowsiness • Upset stomach or nausea • Constipation • Temporary confusion
Most side effects from pain medications do not last very long. Many side effects get better or go away with simple actions. Your nurse will help you learn what you might expect and what to do about any side effects until they go away.
866.466.9734
FourSeasonsCare.org
FourSeasonsCare.org
866.466.9734
Four Seasons
Four Seasons
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