Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Marvel's Caregiving Tips

Marvel spent some time writing up some tips for spellboarding, hoyering, head position, and eye flushing. They are on the wall in Peggy's room, but I thought I'd post them here too:

Using the Spellboard - Peggy can read the spellboard if you hold or prop it so that the bottom row will be above her eyes. Also just as important is the distance at which you hold the spellboard. Most people hold it way too close. I suggest that the best distance is at her knees because it is difficult for Peggy to lower her eyes. Please have patience when Peggy's trying to get to the second number from the top line to the bottom line. For example, when she is moving her eyes from the 1 box to the 4 box.

Using the Hoyer - The black bar does not make a T-formation. When you hang the straps on the hooks, the bar runs parallel to the hoyer. The hoyer straps at the front (by Peggy's knees) are to be criss-crossed at the green hold (black into green) then hook both black ends onto the hooks. The back straps (straps by Peggy's head) don't get criss-crossed. Hand the 2 blue straps on the hooks. IMPORTANT - the edge of the bottom of the hoyer should never go below the crease of the knees.

Head Position - First, don't bend Peg's head too far forward. It can cause her trach to bend and poke into her neck. It feels like it's pushing down on to the bone vertebrae. It is very painful.

Flushing - Peggy may want a flush consisting of 4 to 5 gel drops in each eye. Or she may want a flush consisting of one drop in each eye. Either way after each drop you blink.

After flushing - You can ask Peggy if she wants PM Gel or Tobradex. And if she wants a bit or a lot. Sometimes she doesn't want anything at all. Sometimes she may want something (gel or Tobradex) in just one eye. She will say "right" or "left" or "both".

Patches - Take 4 cotton rounds and wet one of them. The wet one will be closest to the eye. Cover eye with PM gel (eye that will be covered). Take all four pads, cover and close eyes from and then tape with medical tape. Make sure eye is closed before you tape.

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