If you know an elderly family member or friend in Ocean County, New Jersey who lives in a nursing home, ensuring they are being taken care of correctly is essential for their physical well-being. Unfortunately, neglect can occur in this type of facility. Caregivers may become busy and try to cut corners, which results in pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores. Having a pressure ulcer occur can be challenging to deal with as it can be painful, take a significant time to heal and lead to infection or worse.
Precautions must be taken to avoid pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers can occur quickly if your elderly loved one isn’t cared for properly in a nursing home or extended care facility. Failing to have the position of their body moved frequently can cause open sores to occur in different areas. The most vulnerable areas usually include one or more of the following:
• Tailbone
• Hips
• Heels
• Lower back
• Buttocks
Malnutrition, dehydration or exposure to bodily fluids, such as urine or feces, can lead to bedsores. Regular repositioning, cleaning up bowel or bladder accidents quickly and providing adequate nutrition are necessary elements to ensure a pressure ulcer doesn’t happen. When these elements aren’t addressed, problems with the skin can occur.
Recognizing the onset of pressure early is critical
Determining if too much pressure is occurring, causing injury to the skin can be completed by examining it regularly. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel created a scale to indicate the severity of a pressure ulcer. Knowing the difference between the four stages in this scale and taking action immediately to prevent them from becoming worse can be vital to your loved one’s health and well-being.
Understanding how bedsores can be stopped is essential when you know an elderly individual being cared for in an extended care facility or nursing home. If one occurs, dealing with it fast is critical.