The Dangers of Bedsores
Bedsores are dangerous, painful and preventable. Nursing home patients are at risk of developing bed sore if they do not receive proper treatment from nursing home staff. Since bedsores can develop rapidly and quickly become infected and dangerous it is important that both nursing home residents and their families understand what bedsores are, why they are dangerous and how they can be prevented.
What are Bedsores and Why are They Dangerous?
Bedsores are also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers. They occur most often in people who are bedridden or spend the majority of their time in bed or in a wheelchair. The sores develop when blood circulation is cut off to areas of skin and tissue and the tissue in the affected area dies.
Anyone who cannot move without the assistance of another person is at risk of developing bedsores. Many residents of nursing homes are at an increased risk, however, because they often have one or more additional factors that make the development of bedsores more likely. For example, the majority of bedsore injuries occur in people over 70 which is also the largest demographic in our nation’s nursing homes. Older adults have thinner skin and are more likely to be underweight which can also contribute to the development of bedsores.
Bedsores do develop rapidly but they develop in stages. A Stage 1 bedsore may itch or hurt but once the pressure is relieved, the wound heals itself. A Stage 2 bedsore is an open wound that has already caused some of the skin to die. However, with prompt and effective treatment most Stage 2 bedsores can heal completely. By the time a bedsore is significant enough to become a Stage 3 bedsore, the patient has developed a significant and deep wound that may be difficult to heal. The most severe kind of bedsore is a Stage 4 bedsore. Stage 4 bedsores include extensive damage to skin and tissue as well as damage to the bone, muscles and tendons in the affected area. It is very difficult to recover from a Stage 4 bedsore and often times they are fatal.
Are Bedsores Preventable?
While some bedsores may develop despite the most vigilant efforts of nursing home staff, the vast majority of bedsores can be prevented. Every nursing home patient who is incapable of moving on his or her own should be frequently repositioned by nursing home staff, have his or her skin checked daily for the beginnings of bedsores and should receive as nutritious a diet as possible. A healthy diet can help the skin remain healthy and aid in the recovery from an infection.
Experts say that a bedsore can begin to form in as little as a few hours in a person who is bedridden. Therefore, a nursing home resident who is bedridden should be helped to change position at least every 1-2 hours. A physical therapist or a nurse can advise the patient about the best position to lay in between position changes for maximum comfort and safety from bedsores.
These precautions are relatively easy to implement in a nursing home environment. If you notice a nursing home resident with a bedsore it could be indicative of nursing home neglect and immediate action is often necessary to ensure the safety of the resident.
Bedsores are serious and can be fatal. However, they are easy to prevent and easy to treat if they are diagnosed early. Therefore, it is important that all nursing home staff, nursing home residents and close relatives of nursing home residents understand what a bedsore is and how it can be prevented. That knowledge could save the lives of many nursing home patients every year.