Having provided rehabilitation in hospitals and communities, I have encountered many people who are essentially bedridden and unable to leave their beds. The frustration of being unable to move on their own can lead to stress, and some people lash out at their families and caregivers. Here are some examples of how I have interacted with such individuals.
① Whenever you are able to get up, always get out of bed.
During rehabilitation sessions, we have enough manpower to provide dedicated care for about 20 minutes to an hour. On days when the patient is feeling well, we try to do things together that they can't do in bed, such as getting some fresh air in a wheelchair, or looking out the window on days when that's not possible. When they go outside, their expression changes dramatically compared to when they're indoors. This helps reduce stress, stabilize their mental state, improve their physical strength, and maintain their cognitive function.
② When you can't get up, cherish the conversation.
On days when she wasn't feeling well and couldn't get out of bed, I tried to talk to her as much as possible while she was in bed. If it was a height-adjustable bed, I would raise the head of the bed to talk to her, or I would open the window and show her photos of flowers and the sky that I had taken while feeling the breeze, using them as conversation starters. Sometimes, she would suddenly feel better and even be able to get into her wheelchair.
Those who are bedridden greatly appreciate the fresh air and the changing seasons. With the hope that their stress would be relieved during rehabilitation and that their relationship with their family would improve, we made it a point to engage them in conversation and find things that would pique their interest.
The approach described here is just one possible way of interacting with someone. I hope it will be helpful as you consider how to best interact with that person.
Consult with a care concierge.
