Long term care considerations

[1Admin]

Given the thought that most of us will be operating in relatively small groups or a couple of family units type deals, the prospect of even one person being "out of the fight" for a lengthy period of time is one we all need to consider.

Not just the manpower loss for the patrolling, guard duty and necessary work needing to be done, but the additional manpower of the caregiver requirement.

Now in a "mass casualty" event- which by definition for us will be TWO OR MORE casualties- conceivably one caregiver could be given for multiple "patients." At least in regards to long term care.

Have you given any thought to how having someone that's a post apoc amputee will change your plans? Double leg amputee? Zombies? Haha, give me a stack of mags and a grenade with the pin straightened in that situation LOL.

But seriously, these medical conditions will be hard to overcome as well as deal with on a daily basis.

I know just when I've been injured from fighting or after surgery when I was out of it for a couple weeks, I could tell just the daily homestead chores were tougher on the family with a man down. How much more would those things be when also their is the prospect of guard duty, patrolling and other security activities?

Having done a little caring for people on the side- not a profession thankfully- it does get mentally and sometimes emotionally exhausting at times. And unfortunately you cannot always see the prospect of "stuffs getting better."

So what solid plans do you have in this regard?

Robert

[610Alpha]

Given the thought that most of us will be operating in relatively small groups or a couple of family units type deals, the prospect of even one person being "out of the fight" for a lengthy period of time is one we all need to consider.

Not just the manpower loss for the patrolling, guard duty and necessary work needing to be done, but the additional manpower of the caregiver requirement.

Now in a "mass casualty" event- which by definition for us will be TWO OR MORE casualties- conceivably one caregiver could be given for multiple "patients." At least in regards to long term care.

Have you given any thought to how having someone that's a post apoc amputee will change your plans? Double leg amputee? Zombies? Haha, give me a stack of mags and a grenade with the pin straightened in that situation LOL.

But seriously, these medical conditions will be hard to overcome as well as deal with on a daily basis.

I know just when I've been injured from fighting or after surgery when I was out of it for a couple weeks, I could tell just the daily homestead chores were tougher on the family with a man down. How much more would those things be when also their is the prospect of guard duty, patrolling and other security activities?

Having done a little caring for people on the side- not a profession thankfully- it does get mentally and sometimes emotionally exhausting at times. And unfortunately you cannot always see the prospect of "stuffs getting better."

So what solid plans do you have in this regard?

Robert

Step 1 ) Marry a nurse that has worked in long term care and on a surgical recovery floor.
Step 2 ) Learn from Wife on what/how to do stuff
Step 3 ) Work with wife on purchasing medical supplies and tools.
Step 4 ) Take refresher classes from wife.
Step 5 ) Repeat steps 2 and 5 until no longer necessary ;)

[protus]

Step 1 ) Marry a nurse that has worked in long term care and on a surgical recovery floor.
Step 2 ) Learn from Wife on what/how to do stuff
Step 3 ) Work with wife on purchasing medical supplies and tools.
Step 4 ) Take refresher classes from wife.
Step 5 ) Repeat steps 2 and 5 until no longer necessary ;)

I dunno if mamma protus would let me marry a nurse right now LOL

[610Alpha]

I dunno if mamma protus would let me marry a nurse right now LOL

I wouldn't try it if I were in your place...the op asked "So what solid plans do you have in this regard?"

I listed my 5 step plan...and currently I am doing step 3....I learned a lot from her while she was going to nursing school...we were going to college at the same time and she was always telling me about what she had learned...she didn't want to listen to me talk about computers sooo I just let her talk ;)

[protus]

best of what ive done is just try to stock bulk basics for cleaning..and such.
pads,towels. portable toilet..wound care.
when i was laid up it sucked. but having some walking sticks/canes and that portable toilet saved the day. cases of baby wipes as well.
braces- i ve got several braces for ankles,back,wrist, all the common get old injuries or stuff that seems to happen when your active and not 18 lol

before my move i had 2 sets of crutches and walker..but i dumped them since space was tight. shoulda kept the crutches at least.

[Rmplstlskn]

There is no GOOD solution....


That is the truth.


The only solution that has any decent PAW success is one that I have not seen successfully done PUBLICALLY (privately, underground, there may be success stories here and there). That is INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES...

I am not getting younger, nor are the survivalists and homesteaders I know, and that includes everyone here. A solution requires PEOPLE! And that is the HARDEST thing for survivalists to accept or adapt to, unlike the many "hippy" and "new age" intentional communities that exist in my area, who welcome new people in just as they are, as long as the help out somewhere and provide something to the group as a whole. Survivalists have a much higher level, as we know what awaits us one day if what we think is right and eventually happens. We also are fiercely independent, opinionated, and somewhat anti-social on some levels. Not the traits that work well in community.

I think survivalists eventually will have to change and adapt, or get stuck with whomever happens to walk by in a PAW that has any skill sets of need, all the while hoping a nurse, doctor, or engineer walks by... LOL! People will be needed, I can see no way around it, less injury that leads to death by being unable to do what needs to be done. Then in death, who cares after that... Better hope ones wife and children can do what you do and know how to do it all, otherwise your death and or injury has also doomed them as well...

Hey, prepping and survivalism is a DARK reality, not happy, happy, joy, joy...

Rmpl

[justanothergunnut]

There is a new article series recently started over at grid down medical covering this very topic. Looks to be interesting.

http://griddownmed.com/2015/06/11/convalescent-care-in-grid-down-and-covert-environments-part-i/

[Lowdown3]

C. diff is another one to watch out and plan for. PSD can chime in more on that one, but it's a killer with old folks, those with depressed immunity, etc.

[EX121]

May sound lame but like a lot of things in the real prepping world, hope for the best.

Hope they survive the injury, are mentally able to help with light chores such as assisting in meal preparation, etc.

But in reality get training, practice, and brainstorm with your family.

I once read about how the Tribes in Northern Nevada had the Oldester make cordage which was then made into nets which were used to trap rabbits. One surviving net was approximately 1/2 mile long by 4 ft high.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Long term care considerations

C. diff is another one to watch out and plan for. PSD can chime in more on that one, but it's a killer with old folks, those with depressed immunity, etc.

I've had no less then three friends that had relatives in "Extended Care Facilities" and Hospitals over the last few years that would call me and tell me GI symptoms their family member was having. Before they finished I said "they've been on IV antibiotics, right? They need to have a stool culture and check for C. Diff or Clostridium difficult Toxin. Most times it was positive.

This is a huge problem when on strong IV abx (but can be seen with oral abx as well...just less common) and usually overlooked, which I can't understand because it's seen so often. The patient can get dehydrated quickly and cause significant electrolyte imbalances. If bad enough, the electrolyte disturbances can lead to cardiac problems.

Edit to add...
I forgot about treatment. Simple would be to monitor patient while beginning any abx. First sign of diarrhea, begin probiotics. Some would say start probiotics when starting abx and this would be fine, but in a SHTF world you may have limited probiotics without hope of resupply. Here is a resource on probiotics. http://www.webmd.com/diet/answers-to...out-probiotics

Metronidazole is a Rx that can be given as well. It is one of the "fish antibiotics".

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[justanothergunnut]

a smart survivalist would be looking at fermented vegetables.. Stored probiotics from health food stores have a very limited shelf life.. The advantages of fermenting bean or wheat sprouts may be interesting to explore

[protus]

Fermented bean paste ...kimchi ....

Hmmmm....sourdough....what else is fermented.... :p