World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day on the 15th of November is a day to help increase awareness to the general public about pressure injury prevention. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) has developed various media materials appropriate for all health care settings and organizations. These methods assist others in understanding how bedsores affect the infirm and elderly. If your loved one has suffered because of bedsores from prolonged stationary confinement to a bed, you should contact our knowledgeable nursing home bedsores attorneys in Cincinnati for legal help today. At O’Connor, Acciani & Levy, we can help you understand how these injuries occur and the preventable measures that are possible.
An Overview Of Bedsores
Bedsores are pressure points on the body similar to ulcers that affect the skin and tissue beneath. They happen through prolonged pressure often because of confinement. These injuries generally develop on the skin that covers boney areas of the body such as the heels, hips, tailbone and ankles. The likelihood of sustaining bedsores increases for nursing home residents that have a limited ability to move, change positions and spend more time in a bed or chair. The warning signs and common symptoms include the following:- Unusual fluctuations in skin color and texture
- Swelling of affected areas
- Locations filled with puss that may drain
- Areas of skin that are cooler or warmer than surrounding tissue
- Parts of the body that are tender
Risk Factors And Complications Of Bedsores
For nursing home residents who are unable to move or have difficulty with mobility, bedsores are a common risk. The factors that increase the risk of bedsores include the following:- Immobility or the lack of movement caused by poor health, injury to the spine or other reasons
- An inability to feel pain or distress that often decreases awareness of the risk of bedsores
- Poor diet and hydration that affect the health and can increase the breakdown of tissue
- Medical situations that disrupt blood flow, such as diabetes that increase tissue breakdown and damage
Bedsore Prevention Tips
Preventing bedsores is possible by taking recommended tips and using them on a daily basis. The following can help in avoiding these injuries in nursing home residents:- Shifting weight frequently, every fifteen minutes
- Lifting the body, if possible, through daily exercises
- Using a wheelchair that tilts the body
- Using cushions or a mattress that relieves pressure to certain areas of the body
- Adjusting the elevation while in bed
- Washing the skin and keeping it dry
- Protecting the skin through lotions and powders
- Inspecting the body daily and looking closely for warning signs of possible bedsores
