Bettlägerigen

Bettlägerigen is a German term used in medical and caregiving contexts to describe people who are bedridden or confined to a bed for extended periods. The adjective bettlägerig and the declined form bettlägerigen appear in phrases such as die bettlägerigen Menschen. The term signals long-term immobility resulting from illness, disability, or advanced age and can refer to both temporary conditions (for example after surgery) and permanent ones.

Ursachen for bed confinement include acute injuries or illnesses requiring rest, as well as chronic conditions. Common underlying diseases are stroke, neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS or advanced multiple sclerosis, severe cancer, advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart failure. Age-related frailty also increases the likelihood of becoming bettlägerigen.

Folgen of prolonged bed rest span physical and psychological dimensions. Physically, there is a higher risk of pressure ulcers, muscle atrophy, contractures, respiratory infections, venous thromboembolism, and constipation. Psychosocial effects can include isolation, reduced autonomy, and mood changes. Prevention and monitoring are central to care.

Versorgung und Unterstützung include a multidisciplinary approach combining medical treatment, nursing care, physiotherapy, and nutrition management. In-home care or admission to long-term care facilities are common options. Essential measures include regular repositioning (often every two hours), skin care, hygiene, continence management, pain control, and use of assistive devices to aid transfers and mobility as far as possible.

Historisch gesehen ist bettlägerig lang in medizinischen Texten verbreitet; moderne klinische Sprache betont oft Funktionseinschränkungen und Mobilität statt einer stigmatisierenden Bezeichnung.