Bedsores, Pressure Sores & Decubitus Ulcers: Nothing To Be Taken Lightly

Written by Adam Peck Category: Bed Sores January 26th, 2013 3 min read

When a person ages, the skin becomes thinner. Thus, when elderly people become bedridden, bedsores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers – easily occur. These sores are a result from sustained pressure to a body area which prevents normal blood flow. Without adequate circulation the impaired skin dies.

The severity of pressure sores can be observed in four distinct stages:

Stage one is where the wound is an irritated red patch of skin that usually dissipates after a short period of time once pressure is relieved. The irritation can become worse until reaching a fourth stage, which involves a large area of skin loss and possible damage to the muscle or even bone. Such sores can be a caregiver’s nightmare and cause unimaginable suffering to the patient.

The less mobile your patient becomes, the more attention you must pay to their skin condition.

When a patient is wheelchair-bound, you may think your only concern will be bedsores on your loved one’s bottom. Where, in fact, you will also need to pay close attention to the shoulder blades, the spine and the back of their arms. When they become bed-bound, you need to keep an eye on their ears and along with the back and sides of their head, actually any point on the body where pressure occurs.

Prevention will always be a caregiver’s best defense. Examining the skin while bathing should become a daily custom. Once the patient has become incontinent, your constant vigil becomes even more critical. The skin staying moist only enhances the risk of bedsores, also, creating a higher contingency of infection.

Open wounds may take forever to heal. They must be attended to every day. Your loved one’s doctor can design a plan for you to follow, but the first step of treating any bedsore is to relieve any pressure that caused it. If patients cannot reposition themselves, someone will have to turn them throughout the entire day possibly up to every two hours. Caregivers need to watch out for things like wrinkled sheets, the plastic of incontinence pads or any obstacles that could be restricting circulation.

Another situation to worry about is drastic weight loss. With Alzheimer’s or any appetite diminishing diseases, a caregiver is constantly trying to get a patient to eat. Finally, the patient’s birthday suit seems to have become two sizes too big.

Current technology has brought forward some great devices to assist with patient care; air or water-filled cushions, specialized mattresses, and other helpful products. See if you can get some of these products prescribed to them by their physician. Most insurance policies will cover the cost.

One rule you should always follow is to contact his or her doctor immediately if you notice the sore has broken open. This is where the wound becomes extremely vulnerable to infection.

When visiting a loved one in a nursing home or a hospital, don’t hesitate to check the patient’s skin. If you notice anything that concerns you, talk with a member of the nursing staff or the facility director. Inform them you’ll be back daily to check on their condition.

– from Steven Peck, Senior Attorney at Peck Law Group

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.