Video: How to care for a person's eyes and nose (for care workers)

Transcript

[Music plays]

>> Narrator (female voice): How to care for a person’s eyes for care workers.

In this video you will be shown how to clean a person’s eyes using a step-by-step process.

When a person is in their terminal phase, their ability to blink is reduced. This can lead to the eyes drying out. A build-up of secretions around the eyes can also occur.

Maintaining good eye care helps a person’s comfort at end of life.

Report any problems with the eyes such as redness, excess secretions or obvious discomfort to your manager or supervisor.

Step 1.

Get the things you need

• A towel
• Gloves
• The step-by-step guide
• Cotton pads or a washcloth
• A rubbish bag
• Hand sanitiser
• And a bowl of clean water

Step 2.

Clean your hands.

Raise the bed to hip height if possible so you don’t have to bend over.

Put on gloves.

Put a towel on the pillow so it does not get wet.

Step 3.

Wet the cotton pad or washcloth with some clean water.

Step 4.

Wipe gently from the inside of the person’s eye to the outside of the eye.

Step 5.

Repeat this step with both eyes until they are clean.

To avoid infection, use a clean cotton pad or section of the washcloth for each wipe.

Step 6.

Put the used cotton pads in the rubbish bag or the dirty washcloth in the wash.

Remove the towel.

Step 7.

Remove gloves.

If you raised the bed, lower it back to a safe position.

After you have finished you can clean your hands.

[Text on screen: caring@home. caringathomeproject.com.au. caring@home is funded by the Australian Government and led by Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative]

>> Narrator (female voice): How to care for a person’s nose for care workers.

In this video you will be shown how to clean a person’s nose using a step-by-step process.

When a person is in their terminal phase the mucous membranes in the nose can dry out and a build-up of dry secretions can occur.

Taking good care of the nose helps to maintain a person’s comfort at end of life.

Report any problems with the nose such as excess secretions or obvious discomfort to your manager or supervisor.

Step 1.

Get the things you need

• A towel
• Gloves
• The step-by-step guide
• A rubbish bag
• A washcloth
• Cotton tips
• Hand sanitiser
• And a bowl of clean water

Step 2.

Clean your hands.

Raise the bed to hip height if possible so you don’t have to bend over, and put on gloves.

Place a towel under the person’s chin to catch any drips.

Step 3.

Wet the washcloth and squeeze out excess water.

Step 4.

Wipe gently around the entrance to the nose with the wet washcloth.

Step 5.

If there is dry mucous around the nostril, a wet cotton tip can be used to remove it.

Make sure you don’t push the cotton tip too far up the nose.

Step 6.

Put the used cotton tips in the rubbish bag and the dirty washcloth in the wash.

Remove the towel.

Step 7.

Remove your gloves.

If you raised the bed, lower it to a safe position.

After you have finished, you can clean your hands.

[Text on screen: caring@home. caringathomeproject.com.au. caring@home is funded by the Australian Government and led by Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative]