- If the person you care for has signs of an infection, do not wait for your next visit to the Doctor’s office. Call and report what you have observed.
- If you are caring for a person with a wound, keep a record of what the wound looks like. Tell the doctor if there is any redness, swelling, tenderness or drainage. Try to estimate how much drainage by the number of times you changed a dressing. Describe the color, amount, and odor of the drainage.
- If a person has a serious infection, there is usually a change in their behavior. Tell the doctor about any change in the person’s behavior:
- Change in appetite
- Feels sleepy or tired all of the time
- Has trouble completing routine tasks at home
- If you have been taking the person’s temperature – keep a record and report your results to the doctor.
- Tell the doctor about anything you have done to help control a person’s fever. Report the amount and type of fluids you have given the person.
