How to Care for Someone Who's Had Bone Marrow Transplants

A bone marrow transplant is when healthy bone marrow is transplanted to replace unhealthy bone marrow. Healthy bone marrow can be harvested from the patient or from a marrow donor. A bone marrow transplant may be effective for some types of cancer, hereditary blood diseases and immune deficiency disorders.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Protect the patient from infection by carefully cleaning the house in which she will be living. Her immune system will be very weak after having bone marrow transplants, and common germs may cause a severe infection. She will be in this weakened state for about a year, so make sure to keep the house clean at all times.

2. Expect the patient who's just had a bone marrow transplant to be irritable and anxious throughout the recovery process. Remember that the patient is having to completely alter her lifestyle, and asking for help may not be easy. Be patient.

3. Care for someone who's had bone marrow transplants by changing the filters in the air conditioning and the heaters regularly. Filters can trap germs and push them back into the home.

4. Ensure that the doors and windows are kept closed so no outdoor germs can be brought inside.

5. Refrain from any major remodeling on the house, as bacteria can be released and may cause an infection.

6. Wash your hands, and have any visitors wash their hands thoroughly when they enter the house. People should also wash their hands any time they use the bathroom, change a diaper and before and after they eat.

7. Limit the number of people who come into the house. If they have a cold or are sick, they absolutely can not come in.

8. Plan to avoid outside childcare. Children can bring in a number of illnesses, so while caring for someone who has had a bone marrow transplant, make sure that the children in the house do not go to daycare or receive live vaccines.

9. Avoid letting pets into the house. If the patient had the pet before the bone marrow transplant, the pet may be allowed to enter the house, though the patient should never handle any of its waste. The pet should not sleep with the patient. If the pet is a bird or reptile, the pet needs to be placed in an alternate home while the patient is in the house.

10. Avoid having the patient do any chores that may stir up bacteria or fungi. These chores may include any yard work, dusting or vacuuming, shopping or anything that requires the patient to be around a lot of people. All of these chores carry the risk for bacteria and infection.

11. Accompany the patient to any follow-up appointments and take notes when the doctor gives instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the doctor how long the patient needs to be protected from bacteria and infections.
• If you will need to make treatment decisions on behalf of your patient, make sure he or she signs the appropriate release forms.
• Having limits set upon a person may cause them to become depressed or anxious. Consult a doctor or counselor and ask if any antidepressants are appropriate.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.