Does your loved one need to be put on a ventilator? This can be a scary time for both them and you. Here’s how to care for and support your loved one.
Mechanical ventilation supports critically ill patients who can’t breathe on their own. Medical professionals will insert a tube into the person’s airway. The ventilator then pumps air through those tubes and into the person’s lungs.
When a loved one is ventilated, they can’t talk because of the tubes down their throat, and they won’t be able to move, eat, or drink by themselves due to sedation. Seeing your loved one in such a state can be scary, but remember: the tubes and ventilator are there to help them.
Wondering how to support a loved one on a ventilator? Here are some things family caregivers can do to make the situation easier for their loved one and for themselves, too.
Understand the Risks
Most people put on a ventilator are in serious condition. Luckily, the majority of ventilated patients survive the ventilation period and return to their normal lives.
But even though most patients will survive, you can’t ignore the fact that mechanical ventilation comes with a lot of risks. Complications can range from mild infections to lung injuries to death.
You should never lose hope, as the odds are in your loved one’s favor. But you also should prepare yourself for less-than-ideal outcomes. Talking with the nurses and doctors can help you understand your loved one’s current condition, as well as how they’re reacting to the treatment.
Be Comforting
Being sedated is a lot like being asleep. Your loved one’s eyes will be closed, and they can’t move or speak. But their brain can still process sounds and sensations. This means they can hear and feel everything around them.
One tip for how to support a loved one on a ventilator is to be comforting. If you spend your time in the hospital room panicking, it can unnerve your loved one. Talking to them in a calm voice and holding their hand, can help them feel at ease.
… But Not Overwhelming
It’s important to be comforting, but not overwhelming. Being on a mechanical ventilator is overwhelming enough, and the last thing you want to do is cause your loved one unnecessary stress or confusion by talking or touching them too much.
Give them—and yourself—time alone when needed. Your goal is to ensure your loved one knows they aren’t alone in this, and sometimes, simply being there is enough.
Post-Ventilator Care
Your loved one will have to remain in the hospital for an observation period once off the ventilators. Make sure to continue talking with them and showing support even after the sedation wears off. Continue checking in with the nurses and doctors to discuss the next course of action.
Recovery will take time, but the dedicated care and unwavering support you provide will make your loved one’s healing process easier.
FAQs
Based on those findings, these are the best ways to support your loved one:
- Touch. Touch is both important to you and your loved one because it's a natural gesture of comfort. ...
- Communication. There are three ways to talk to your loved one that can be helpful: ...
- Learning clinical information. ...
- Providing space and calm.
For the 157 discharged prolonged mechanical ventilation patients, the one-year and five-year survival rates were 50.3% and 32.6%, respectively. For the 60 ventilator-dependent patients, the one-year and five-year survival rates were 31.7% and 13.2%, respectively.
How do you help someone on a ventilator communicate? ›
Tips for Communicating with a Patient on a Ventilator
- Get the patient's attention by touch and maintain eye contact.
- Have glasses and hearing aids or amplifiers, large print if needed,
- Have notebook and marker available to write key words or phrases that emphasize or reinforce your message,
Be Comforting
This means they can hear and feel everything around them. One tip for how to support a loved one on a ventilator is to be comforting. If you spend your time in the hospital room panicking, it can unnerve your loved one. Talking to them in a calm voice and holding their hand, can help them feel at ease.
How to comfort someone in the ICU? ›
Music, get-well cards, and family photos are comforting, but sometimes patients just need quiet and rest. Designate one family member as the point person between the family and the Medical Center staff. That person can then update other friends and family.
How to motivate someone in ICU? ›
The patient requires motivation for quicker recovery. You can tell the patient that he or she has been admitted in the ICU for better care and there is nothing to worry about. Use positive words and stay away from using any sort of negative words. Tell the patient that he or she is just going to be fine.
How long can you be on a ventilator before brain damage? ›
Markers in the serum for astrocyte damage and neuronal damage were also higher in the mechanically ventilated group. Therefore, our study demonstrated that considerable hippocampal insult can be observed after 50 h of lung-protective mechanical ventilation, sedation and physical immobility.
Is being on a ventilator the same as life support? ›
A ventilator is a life-support machine that helps you breathe if you can no longer breathe on your own. The machine provides oxygen to your lungs through a tube. The tube enters your mouth and goes down your throat to your lungs.
Does being on a ventilator cause permanent damage? ›
Lung damage can result from pushing too much air into your lungs or using too much pressure. Too much oxygen can also damage your lungs. Babies put on a ventilator, especially premature infants, may be at a higher risk of lung damage from excess oxygen therapy and lung infections in childhood and adulthood.
What to expect when a loved one is on a ventilator? ›
If your loved one is on a ventilator, they might be sedated or fall in and out of consciousness. If they are alert, they will be unable to speak due to the breathing tube in their throat. Along with the fluctuation in their consciousness, their comprehension might do the same.
Other factors to consider include respiratory secretions burden, the presence of a strong cough, and the ability to maintain adequate wakefulness. A successful trial is usually followed by a cuff leak test and removal of the endotracheal tube, and discontinuation of mechanical ventilation.
How do you stay positive when a loved one is in ICU? ›
Just hearing your voice can be a help. Keeping up a one-sided conversation can be difficult, but talking about happy memories and good times can make you feel better too. You could also try reading a book or newspaper to them.
Can a person hear you when they are on a ventilator? ›
Yes, it is possible for someone in the ICU on a ventilator to hear others. While being on a ventilator may make it difficult for the patient to communicate or respond, their brain can still process sounds and sensations (1). Here are some key points to consider:
How long is too long on a ventilator? ›
The length of time you need mechanical ventilation depends on the reason. It could be hours, days, weeks, or — rarely — months or years. Ideally, you'll only stay on a ventilator for as little time as possible. Your providers will test your ability to breathe unassisted daily or more often.
Should you talk to someone on a ventilator? ›
Communication can be the best way to lift their spirits during this time as it will allow them to get their mind off of things. If your loved one is on a ventilator, they might be sedated or fall in and out of consciousness. If they are alert, they will be unable to speak due to the breathing tube in their throat.
Can a sedated person on a ventilator hear you? ›
Nursing and other medical staff usually talk to sedated people and tell them what is happening as they may be able to hear even if they can't respond. Some people had only vague memories whilst under sedation. They'd heard voices but couldn't remember the conversations or the people involved.
Is a person on a ventilator conscious? ›
If you continue to feel like gagging or coughing, you'll be given medicines to help you feel better. Most often patients are sleepy but conscious while they are on the ventilator—think of when your alarm clock goes off but you aren't yet fully awake.
