 Show Seniors with limited mobility are at risk of developing painful bed sores (aka pressure sores). Sitting or lying in the same position for long periods of time can cause these potentially life-threatening sores to form on their body. Since bed sores prevention is far easier than healing them, Vive Health shares 3 tips for preventing sores from developing and also explain 2 common treatments. If you are caring for an older adult who has limited mobility or is confined to a bed, recliner, or wheelchair, knowing your way around bed sores is a must. Why? While seemingly harmless in the beginning, bed sores can quickly progress into life-threatening tissue decay and infection. It may sound dramatic, but whisper concerns about a bed sore to any medical professional and they’ll probably have a wound care specialist evaluating your older adult STAT. Unfortunately, the people most susceptible to developing bed sores are the ones already experiencing debilitating illnesses which have cost them their mobility in the first place. Get 3 tips for preventing bed sores from developing and find out about the 2 methods doctors typically use to treat bed sores. 3 tips for bed sores prevention1. Frequent repositioning Specialty mattresses or toppers with alternating airflow can do this job for you. For regular mattresses and chairs, manually repositioning them with pillows works too. Using gel or memory foam pillows or mattress toppers helps, but still doesn’t remove the need for constant repositioning. 2. Managing incontinence During each incontinence brief change, clean, dry, and apply barrier ointments, creams, or gels to protect skin from getting wet and breaking down. Keeping the sacral area (just above the tailbone) clean and dry helps keep contaminants away from sensitive areas and prevents bacteria growth in open sores. 3. Prioritizing nutrition and hydration Staying properly hydrated also helps promote good blood circulation, which prevents tissue damage. You could also make eating easier with an overbed table that rolls right up to your older adult’s bed or chair. 2 primary bed sore treatmentsDepending on the stage and size of the bed sore, your older adult’s doctor will recommend a treatment or may have them see a wound care specialist to formulate a customized plan to stop the sore from developing and reverse the skin breakdown. They should also make sure you’re fully trained on how to care for the wound. When you’re helping to treat and heal a bed sore, vigilant monitoring is essential. These sores can progress rapidly from one stage to the next in a matter of days. There are two main methods to treating bed sores. 1. Barrier ointments, creams, or gels Moisture from sweat, urine, or other contaminants can make skin more likely to tear or open. Barrier creams keep out these contaminants and reinforce the vulnerable skin. 2. Wound dressings These vary from breathable gauze pads to treated silicone padding with adhesive barriers, foam, and/or hydrocolloid dressings. Additional materials including silver and calcium alginate help healing and may be applied with dressings. A home health nurse or other medical professional will train you on how to treat the bed sore and change dressings. Training is critical because treating a bedsore without it can be dangerous. For example, a stage II bedsore may need barrier cream and silicone dressing. But a stage III bedsore would require debridement, or the removal of necrotic tissue that could promote life-threatening bacterial growth. Final considerationsAre bed sores scary? Absolutely. Are they too much for caregivers to manage? Not at all. With prompt attention from a medical professional, as well as proactive actions like repositioning, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy weight, you can keep your older adult bedsore-free for good. Next Step Know the essential facts about bed sores: what causes them, 4 stages of severity, and how to spot one before it turns into a serious wound Recommended for you: Guest contributor: Jessica Hegg is the content manager at ViveHealth.com. Interested in all things related to living healthy lifestyle, she works to share valuable information aimed at overcoming obstacles and improving the quality of life for others. Image: Care Focus Training This article wasn’t sponsored and doesn’t contain affiliate links. For more information, see How We Make Money.
Pressure sores are wounds that develop when constant pressure or friction on one area of the body damages the skin. Constant pressure on an area of skin stops blood flowing normally, so the cells die and the skin breaks down. Other names for pressure sores are bedsores, pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers. Causes of pressure soresPressure sores happen if you can’t move around and so stay in one position for a long time. We normally move about constantly, even in our sleep. This stops pressure sores developing. People who are unable to move around tend to put pressure on the same areas of the body for a long time. If you are ill, bedridden or in a wheelchair, you are at risk of getting pressure sores. A number of things can increase your risk of pressure sores, including:
Preventing pressure soresIt is much better to prevent pressure sores than to treat them. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) have guidelines on pressure sores. They all recommend that a member of the health care team looking after you should assess your risk of developing pressure sores and create a plan to prevent them. The areas of skin most at risk of getting sore depends on whether you are lying down or sitting. The following diagrams show the areas most at risk: Tips to prevent pressure soresThe following tips can help to prevent pressure sores: Relieving direct pressure
Skincare
General tips
21 Feb 2019
Support surfaces for pressure ulcer prevention E McInnes and others. Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews (2011) Issue 4, Art. No.: CD001735. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001735.pub4 Pressure ulcers Prevention and management of pressure ulcers. Best Practice Statement Pressure ulcers prevention and treatment |
What items are used to prevent bed sores?
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