Patients with spinal injuries can get a live in care provider to help them regain independence and improve their quality of life. Find a team of clinical specialists who provide such type of assistance for spinal injury patients.
What is a Spinal Injury?
A spinal injury can be caused by a trauma such as an accident or non-traumatic injuries such as a tumor or blood clot.
The vital nerve cells of the spinal cord transmit messages from the brain into the muscles, skin, and other parts of the body. These nerve cells also relay sensations from the brain to the body, such as temperature, texture, and pain. A spinal injury can cause a person to experience loss of sensation and movement below the injury point.
Long-term care for spinal injuries
It can be difficult to care for someone who has suffered a spinal injury. Many young people are left with a life-altering spinal injury that can cause permanent disability. Long-term care of someone with a spinal injury will require specialized carers, nursing input, and training in areas like bowel movement, physiotherapy, and autonomic dysreflexia.
How do Spinal Injury patients who require long-term home care have to deal with their unique problems?
A holistic approach to spinal injury care is required for problems involving sudden changes in blood pressure (Autonomic Dysreflexia), respiratory function, bladder and bowel management, and skin care.
A damaged spinal cord can cause loss of function in the areas below it. Two possible outcomes are paraplegia (loss in function of some limbs and certain muscles in the stomach area) or tetraplegia. Paralysis can occur in one or more of these body parts.
Care can be categorized into:
- Bowel care for patients with spinal injury
- Blood pressure management
- Take care of pressure sores
- Management of muscle spasticity
- Assistance with mobility and completion of regular daily tasks
Autonomic Dysreflexia, a condition that occurs after a spinal cord injury, is when blood pressure rises suddenly and can lead to death. This is often triggered by severe pain or other adverse stimuli within the body. This is a rare condition that affects people with spinal cord injuries. Some types of stroke can be caused by high blood pressure, and some cases even lead to death.
Neurogenic bowel
Support workers who live in the home of patients suffering from spinal injury need to be certified in managing neurogenic bowel.
- The different types of neurogenic bowel dysfunction, and how to manage them
- The importance of stool consistency, and the factors that influence it
Psychological impact
A spinal injury can cause depression, adjustment difficulties, and relationship problems. Counseling may be necessary. Live-in support workers must be sensitive to individual situations and the dynamics of these individuals. In some cases, a referral to a specialist counselling service might be necessary.
Integrity of skin
In severe cases, spinal injuries can result in prolonged pressure on the skin which can lead to skin damage and skin sores. For spinal injry patients, it is recommended that they change their positions every few hours.
Carers should consider the following:
- Check the skin for reddening
- Throughout the day, change their position frequently
- Use the prescribed skin creams
What should you look for in a spinal injury care agency?
Locate a quality provider of live-in spinal care that can help patients with spinal injuries recover in their own homes.
Specialized carers are available to care for spinal injuries. It is important to match the client with the support worker or live-in caregiver based on their personality, interests, skills, and personality.
Regular reviews by clinicians to ensure that a care plan has been followed, as well as collaboration between other professionals like case managers, physiotherapists, and nurses are key to building a strong partnership with the client and ensuring positive outcomes.
