As your loved one’s physical condition declines, they may spend more and more time in a wheelchair and in bed--and be at more risk for pressure sores. These are sores that develop when the blood supply is cut off to an area for more than two or three hours. Pressure sores become an issue when a person cannot move easily without help. The areas of highest pressure are: The hip, lower back or buttocks, shoulder blades and spine, back and sides of head, rim of the ears, heels, ankles and skin behind the knees. Pressure sores (bedsores) are more common in a care facility than at home. a) people are usually less mobile by then, and b) they may not get the one-on-one attention they got at home. However, they CAN happen at home, especially if you don’t know to look for early signs. Even with the best of care, pressure sores are a risk for people with any debilitating illness. Prevention: The first line of defense.A mattress made of medical quality high-density foam is both inexpensive and very good for someone with limited movement.
Lacking that, you can cover an existing mattress with a pad of the same quality. An egg-crate foam pad does not provide adequate protection, even if it is quite thick. Other good mattresses and pads are those made with gel foam, alternating air and sheepskin. If your loved one is in a wheelchair, it’s a good idea to use a chair pad of similar quality. Don't forget the backs of the legs if your loved one sits in the chair with the feet raised.Once a pressure sore starts, it is hard to cure. Therefore, even with good surface protection, your loved one’s position needs to change every two to three hours. As his ability to move decreases, it becomes the caregiver’s task to make sure this happens. The shift doesn’t have to be major - side to back is great. However, the areas of the body experiencing the most pressure do need to change.Massaging the “high pressure areas” at least once a day helps to maintain good circulation and tougher skin.The skin needs adequate proteins and fluids to stay tough.
Add healthy oils (fish or fish-oil supplements, olive oil, avocados, flax seeds) for elasticity and strength. Be aware that some medications, including steroids, can make skin more fragile and others, such as aspirin, which thin the blood and increase bruising.Even with the best treatment and the most careful prevention, pressure sores can happen. Check on major pressure points at least once a week, daily if possible. “When I was my Dad’s physical caregiver, checking for pressure sores was a part of our bathing process. When he entered an assisted care facility, looking felt intrusive. I assumed that the staff was checking—but apparently they weren’t. Dad developed an awful bedsore on his tailbone which became infected and led to his death.” Yes, the care staff should, and usually do, check for pressure sores but it doesn’t hurt to check yourself as well. (They have many other patients to care for, and things get missed even in the best of facilities.) It may feel intrusive, with both patient and staff, but be proactive.
If the skin is in good condition, tell the staff how pleased you are. Let them know you check! If it isn’t, ask that something be done immediately. A pressure sore starts out as a mild redness that doesn’t go away. The skin may be tender, and warm or cool, compared to the surrounding skin. Caught early, it is easy to fix. Avoid putting any pressure on that spot until it returns to normal skin color. Additional massages with healing oils will speed the recovery. If the sores reappear, talk to the doctor or a physical therapist about ways to avoid this. With broken skin: If the skin is broken, contact a doctor for immediate treatment. This includes a dressing to keep the area clean and moist and, of course, minimal pressure until healed. Medication depends what kind of infection, if any, is present. With deep sores, surgery may be required to clean out the dead tissue. Pressure sores are no small thing when they are left undiscovered and untreated. A proactive caregiver can make sure that they are found early and treated appropriately.
Types of healing oils to use with massage: http://everythingessential.me/bed-sores-pressure-ulcers/ More about pressure sores and their care: For information about Lewy body disorders read our books: A Caregivers’ Guide to Lewy Body Dementia Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson’s & LewyBody Dementia Helen Whitworth, MS, BSNNWPF BloggerAbout this itemImportant Made in USA Origin Disclaimer:Place the 5-Zone Convoluted Foam Topper on top of your mattress to enjoy unparalleled comfort all through the night. With separate head and neck zones included, this convoluted foam bed pad provides support from head to toe. This foam mattress topper even includes separate zones for shoulder, mid-leg, lower back, and torso, to spread the weight evenly and offer additional support. On the whole, this convoluted foam bed pad is great way to soothe your sore pressure points.On the whole, this convoluted foam bed pad is great way to soothe your sore pressure points. 5-Zone 2-inch Convoluted Foam Topper: Head and neck zones are designed for continuous comfort Shoulder and mid-leg zones are designed to reduce tossing and turning Lower back and torso zones provide soft, yet supportive comfort where you need it mostSpecificationsFill MaterialTypeRecommended LocationFeaturesConditionMaterialManufacturer Part NumberColorModelBrandAssembled Product Dimensions (L x W x H)Country of Origin - ComponentsCountry of Origin - AssemblyDoes it make a difference whch side is up.
does the manufacturer recommend which side to use.by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InDoes it make a difference whch side is up. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InCan you layer this topper?by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InCan this be folded into a sofa bed?by It looks like you are not signed in. /careplansSee detailsGet a warranty for it here.Gifting plansPricing policyOnline Price Match.ReturnsReturns Policy.A pressure ulcer - also known as a 'bed sore', 'pressure sore' and 'decubitus ulcer' - is an ulcerated area of skin caused by irritation and continuous pressure on part of your body. Pressure ulcers are more common over places where your bones are close to your skin (bony prominences) such as your heels, the lower part of your back and your bottom. There are various things that can increase your risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
In particular, risk increases if your mobility is reduced for some reason and you are spending long periods lying in bed or sitting in a chair. There are various measures you can take to prevent most pressure ulcers developing. These include changing your position as much as possible and also using pressure-relieving devices.A pressure ulcer is an ulcerated area of skin caused by irritation and continuous pressure on part of your body. It starts as an area of skin damage. The damage can then spread to your tissues underlying your skin. In very severe cases, there can be permanent damage to muscle or bone underneath your skin. This is not common though. Pressure ulcers can be very painful and can take a very long time to heal.Pressure ulcers can affect any area of your body but are more common over places where your bones are close to your skin (bony prominences). Common areas for pressure ulcers to occur are around the lower part of the backbone (your sacrum), your heels, your elbows, your hips, your back, your bottom, the back of your head and your shoulders.
By Mennfield, via Wikimedia CommonsPressure ulcers can develop very quickly. In people who are at high risk (see below), it can take less than an hour for a pressure ulcer to develop.Pressure ulcers are caused by the pressure from the weight of your body pressing down on your skin. They usually occur when a place where you have bone close to your skin (a bony prominence) is pressed against a surface such as a chair or a bed. This compresses your skin and your underlying tissues and can also damage blood vessels. Rubbing (friction) of your skin can also play a part in the formation of a pressure ulcer.If you are spending long periods in bed or in a chair, you may slide down and need to be pulled back up again by someone else (or you may be able to pull yourself back up). However, as these sliding and pulling movements happen, the layers of your skin also slide over each other, as well as over the underlying tissues. These sliding, or 'shearing', forces can also contribute to pressure ulcer formation.
Changes to your skin as it ages may make this sliding of your skin more likely.A lot of moisture around your skin (for example, if you have urinary or stool (faecal) incontinence or you are sweating a lot) can increase the effects of pressure, friction and shearing forces. Damp skin becomes softer and more fragile.Using the correct preventative measures (see below) should mean that most pressure ulcers are avoidable.Most pressure ulcers occur when someone is admitted to hospital. They affect between 1 to 5 in every 100 people admitted to hospital. However, pressure ulcers can also develop in someone at home, or in a nursing or residential home.A pressure ulcer is more likely to develop if you:Pressure ulcers can look different depending on how severe they are. They are graded depending on their severity and how deep they go:The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidelines with recommendations for best practice for the prevention of pressure ulcers. NICE recommends that all people who are admitted to hospital, a nursing home or similar, or people who are receiving nursing care at home, should be assessed for their risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
This is usually done by a healthcare professional (usually a nurse). This assessment should be reviewed regularly because your situation may change.There are various pressure ulcer risk assessment scales that may be used, looking at factors such as your diet, your mobility, your continence, your consciousness level any underlying illnesses that you may have, etc.If you are assessed and found to be at increased risk then one or more of the following may be suggested:Ideally, you should get up and move around as much as possible. However, if this is not feasible, you should change your position as much as possible when you are sitting or lying in bed. You may need help from someone else to change your position. Changing your position means that you are relieving pressure on areas of your body that may be prone to developing pressure sores. Ask your healthcare professional for advice about:It is important that you are eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of fluids to help prevent pressure ulcers.
Your healthcare professional may discuss your diet with you to see if it is likely that you are lacking in any nutrients. They may refer you to a dietician and/or you may be advised to take some supplements.There are various devices that are available that can help to relieve pressure and prevent pressure ulcers. They include special beds, mattresses, cushions and overlays (these are placed on top of a mattress). They can work in the following ways:All the surfaces that you sit or lie on need to be considered for pressure-relieving devices. This includes chairs and beds.Your healthcare professional should check your skin regularly to look for any signs of a pressure ulcer. You or your carer may also be able to check your skin (this may sometimes need the help of a mirror). Tell your healthcare professional if there are any areas of your skin that you are worried about.If you already have a pressure ulcer, it should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. They may want to take a tracing or a photograph of the ulcer.
This can then be used to monitor your response to treatment. They should be able to determine what grade of pressure ulcer you have, look for any signs of infection and try to work out what caused the ulcer.For a pressure ulcer to heal, you need to change your position as much as possible (as described above) and also to use pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions. These both help to relieve the pressure on the ulcer. Current recommendations are that someone with a pressure ulcer should use a high-specification foam mattress. A high-specification foam or equivalent pressure-redistributing cushion should be used if you use a wheelchair or sit for prolonged periods.Other treatments are often needed for pressure ulcers. These may include:A pressure ulcer can become infected. Rarely, this infection can spread to your blood (causing 'blood poisoning', or sepsis, or it can spread to your bone underneath the pressure sore (causing osteomyelitis). In severe cases, a pressure ulcer can cause permanent damage or loss of muscle or bone underneath the affected area of skin.