Definition of convalescence - What it is, Meaning and Concept

The convalescence is the condition of the convalescent : the one who convalesces (that is, who is resting to recover the energy that he lost due to illness or another type of health disorder.) The term comes from the Latin word convalescentia.

It can be said that convalescence is the period that a person must go through fully recover his health .That is why the notion is associated with the rehabilitation or the restoration process in general .

When an individual becomes ill, undergoes surgery or suffers an accident , his recovery develops gradually.The idea of ​​convalescence usually refers to the stage that begins when the disease It is already falling behind and the subject needs to join forces to resume his daily activities.

Suppose a man undergoes a laparoscopic surgery.of a simple intervention, but that requires some care.After the operation and spending a night in the hospital, the patient is discharged to go through convalescence at home.According to the doctor's instructions, you should keep rest and respect a healthy diet for a week until you recover.

Convalescence, as the case may be, can take place in a hospital or in the patient's own home .A medical follow-up is usually done to confirm that the process is performing properly.

In ancient times there were convalescent hospitals , also called convalescent homes .These were institutions that received people once they left traditional hospitals.This reduces the risk of relapse, contagion or infection , which were quite frequent in the past due to health and hygiene conditions.

Tips for convalescence at home

It is important to remember that not everyone has someone to assist them during the period of convalescence, and for this reason it sometimes becomes necessary to hire a nurse or request their services through a government agency.Depending on the Each situation, the care to recover properly are different, as well as the knowledge needed to carry them out.

Beyond technical preparation, when caring for a person during a period of convalescence it is important to take certain precautions, such as making sure there is a window near the bed ; If possible, it is recommended to choose the one that offers the best views of the house.

This brings two benefits that are often overlooked: the convalescent individual keeps in touch with the outside and also enjoys natural light, therapeutic on a physical and mental level.It is also important to ventilate the room frequently , something that can be done perfectly while the patient takes a bath.

Another indispensable factor for a successful convalescence is the cleaning of the room , which includes the maintenance of the floor, the furniture, the glass and the change of the sheets.It is recommended to acquire a Reclining bed , ideal to provide greater mobility to the convalescent at mealtime, reading or any other activity.

Since in some cases patients require constant attention , it is convenient to leave all everyday objects on hand , such as medications, warm clothes , TV remote control, glasses and books, among many other things that are used very frequently during convalescence.

Finally, let's not forget that a period of convalescence can be ideal for studying or developing a project that requires a lot of time and dedication, such as learning a language, writing a book or the programming of an informatic application.