Going back to a normal life with a catheter requires a lot of care, patience, and adjustments. We know this too well as a provider of skilled nursing to our senior patients at Valley of The Sun Home Healthcare.
Fortunately, you can get there faster by mastering the basics of catheter care. Here are some of the basics we advise our patients and their families to prioritize in our home health in Phoenix, Arizona:
- Wash hands before and after handling your catheter and drainage bag
Get used to washing hands all the time when you have a catheter in place. This is the number one way to avoid introducing germs into your device and causing infections. - Know how to clean your catheter properly
Cleaning your catheter is a twice-a-day ritual necessary to keep off infections. - Be on the lookout for signs of infection
…specifically, look around where the catheter goes in; check if there is any swelling, redness, pus, or pain. - Know when to call the doctor
Aside from checking for infections, be sure to know when to call the doctor. Some signs to look for include blood clots, cloudy pee with a strong odor, expelling little or no urine, and a fever over 101 F.
Needless to say, there is a lot that goes on with living with a catheter. This is in great part because having an invasive device long term is always at a higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI) and other health issues.
Thus, if you need assistance with anything involving your catheter, don’t hesitate to call on our healthcare services care in Arizona. Our trained caregivers will be more than happy to assist you.
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