Obesity is a common concern in individuals with increasing care needs, and it can make daily living more difficult. Bariatric care is a specialist form of care that is specifically tailored to individuals who are categorised as ‘obese’, ensuring they are treated equally and receive the best possible standard of care.
Needing bariatric care can be difficult for families to discuss, but with the right support, your loved one can continue living safely at home. Today, we’ll explore what bariatric care is and how Trinity Homecare can help.
What Is Obesity?
The term ‘obese’ refers to people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 30 and 39.9. People who have a BMI of 40 and above are considered ‘severely’ or ‘morbidly’ obese. Obesity is one of the most common health concerns in the UK, with around 26% to 30% of adults living with the condition.
Obesity can cause a number of issues to a person’s health, including:
- Heart disease and stroke: Excess fat around the organs increases the risk of plaque build-up in the arteries, leading to higher blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.
- Type 2 diabetes: Obesity causes the body to become resistant to insulin, making it difficult to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Liver disease: Too much fat surrounding the liver can lead to severe damage and cirrhosis, leading to the organ failing or shutting down altogether.
- Sleep apnea: Obesity increases the risk of a dangerous condition where breathing stops and starts frequently during sleep.
- Osteoarthritis: Extra weight puts significant stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, hips and back, while also triggering systemic inflammation.
- Cancer: Research indicates that obesity increases the risk of developing at least 13 types of cancer, including bowel, breast, colon and pancreatic.
- Mental health: There’s a common correlation between obesity and poor mental health conditions, such as depression and social anxiety.
Obesity can affect people of any age, but it’s most common in people over the age of 55.
What Is Bariatric Care?
Bariatric care is a specialist form of professional care that supports people dealing with obesity. Research in 2019 found that one in 10 care home staff had to reject an obese person from becoming a resident due to a lack of resources.
Bariatric care aims to prevent people who need support from suffering alone. There are several aspects to this type of care, including:
Mobility
Many people who need bariatric care struggle with moving around their homes, often due to weight and physical size. They may also be more susceptible to bed sores and complications from related conditions, like amputations from diabetes, which can impact mobility.
Bariatric carers are often trained in using hoists, slings and slide sheets, making it easier to move around. They can transfer to a wheelchair, shower chair or commode, improving quality of life.
Support with Daily Routines
Bariatric carers can support everyday routines, making each day easier and more manageable. Bariatric care means that people with obesity can continue to live life the way they want without so many limitations.
Bariatric care can provide assistance with:
- Showering and bathing: Including getting in and out of the bath safely, washing and drying areas susceptible to infections, and keeping the bathroom clean.
- Toileting: A bariatric carer can support getting to and from the toilet, basic hygiene and supporting individuals during nighttime wakings.
- Domestic duties: Carers can help with light housework, pet care, and laundry when the client can’t complete these tasks themselves.
- Getting dressed: A carer can help the individual get dressed in the morning and in the evening.
- Cooking and meal planning: If the person would like help with meal planning, preparing specific nutritious and healthy diets and cooking, a bariatric home carer can offer support.
Symptom Management and Monitoring
Bariatric carers are specifically trained to support people with weight-related health conditions. This gives individuals and their loved ones peace of mind that they’ll be safe at home, despite health or well-being concerns.
A bariatric carer can:
- Monitor nutrition and hydration: Checking the person is eating appropriately and tolerating foods well, taking prescribed supplements, and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Support with weight monitoring: Keeping track of weight fluctuations can be distressing to individuals requiring bariatric assistance, so a carer can offer emotional support.
- Track concerning symptoms: Weight-related health issues may present as mild symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness or behavioural changes, which can be identified and treated as soon as possible with a carer’s support.
- Avoid complications escalating: A bariatric carer will be on high alert for warning signs such as severe pain, fever and difficulty swallowing, and get medical assistance straight away.
- Encourage follow-up communication: Support individuals attending healthcare appointments to monitor their condition and ongoing care.
Companionship and Emotional Support
Research suggests that 45% to 50% of individuals with obesity experience some degree of social isolation due to their size, the stigma around obesity, and mobility issues. They may not feel comfortable leaving their home or seeing loved ones due to fear of judgment.
A bariatric home carer can provide regular companionship and emotional support, reducing feelings of loneliness. They can also facilitate meetings between loved ones to promote meaningful connections, improving their quality of life.
Skin Care
Bariatric patients often require increased support with skin care. A bariatric carer can help clean and apply talcum powder between skin folds, preventing infections and sores. They can also build a strong personal hygiene routine to help the person live confidently and without embarrassment.
Care After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an umbrella term for all kinds of weight loss surgery. People undergoing bariatric surgery may have a recovery time of a few weeks to several months, depending on the type of surgery and how invasive it was.
Many metabolic and bariatric surgeries offer long-term solutions rather than quick fixes, such as a gastric bypass surgery, so the person often needs to recover from surgery while remaining overweight. This can lead to several additional complications, such as infections and blood clots.
A bariatric carer can support individuals after weight-related surgery in a number of ways, including:
- Monitoring symptoms and getting emergent medical assistance if required
- Wound dressing and medication reminders
- Domestic support, such as laundry and housework
- Cooking, sticking to a meal plan, hydration and supplements
- Daily help with dressing, bathing, toileting and moving around
Care after bariatric surgery can be offered on a short-term convalescence basis or as part of an ongoing live-in care arrangement.
Talk to Us Today
At Trinity Homecare, our ultimate goal is to enrich your lifestyle in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. This allows you to live the independent lifestyle that you love without the daunting thought of moving into a care home. We are here to support you with various forms of live-in care.
Call us now on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free, no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
