Elderly people are often at risk of developing health conditions that can take a lot of time to heal and recover from. This is an especially challenging time when there are fewer caregivers (family and friends) around to provide the care and support needed. Often, during these times, patients end up getting care in a scanty, and oftentimes, some aspects of assistance get neglected.
Bed sores are one such case scenario where a patient develops ulcers as a result of constant and long periods of exposure to pressure when lying on a side. While stage 1 bed sores are easy to treat, stage 3 and 4 bed sores can really affect the person, making them vulnerable to infections. However, with minor attention to detail, bed sores can be avoided. Here, we discuss how you can avoid bed sores without having to spend time constantly monitoring the watch and the side of the bed your loved one is sleeping on.
4 Effective Ways to Combat Bed Sores While Recovering:
1. Move your patient around frequently:
Bed sores are a result of one side of the body constantly being pressurized. Moving your patient around every 3-4 hours can be incredibly helpful in preventing bed sores. Walking, sitting, and stretching are often recommended. However, if you are not able to indulge in such activities, it is highly recommended that family members or caregivers help the patient move. Bed sores are easy to avoid with movements. Moving around also improves mood and supplements recovery from the injury/surgery/medical condition.
2. Keep a check even if you are frequently moving them around:
Frequently check the patient for sores or any pressure-induced conditions that can cause uneasiness. Oftentimes, laying on one side of the bed can get tiring, and it may even ache the muscles. Frequent checks ensure that you are able to take the comfort and convenience of the patient into consideration and are able to help them find a comfortable position where they are not vulnerable to stage 1 bed sores and are able to relax better. Additionally, in the case of older patients, it becomes easier to identify early signs of bed sores and take precautionary measures to prevent bed sores from progressing.
3. Using specific types of bedding:
Everyone has different pace and comfort requirements while they are recovering from sickness. It is vital to consider these. Especially when, during the recovery, movements are restricted, and complete bed rest is highly recommended. Getting proper bedding and mattress ensures you are able to offer the patient more comfort while they sleep. However, it is important to consider if the additions are worthy practically. For instance, a neck pillow will only provide support to a certain extent. However, a pillow-like wedge will make it possible for the patient to be in a comfortable position when they are getting moved from one side to another. Additionally, not all mattresses are the same. It is best to understand which option best suits your patient’s needs and then make changes to their surroundings accordingly. With technology becoming a part of nearly everything, there are beds that come with the feature of repositioning that can be used in conjunction with manual repositioning to avoid bed sores effectively.
4. Keep the skin clean and dry:
Sweat, urine, and bodily fluids and refuse, when staying in contact with the skin for long periods of time, can cause serious damage to the skin, making it more vulnerable to bed sores. Additionally, being in contact with body fluids can also cause damage to the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to bed sores. It is important to keep the patient clean while they are on bed rest. Certain health conditions make it difficult (sometimes impossible) to control organs, particularly bladders, resulting in bed wetting. When the patient stays in their own urine and excreta for long, it also poses the risk of developing severe infections. There have been many legal cases where negligence from caregivers resulted in severe infections and bed sores that significantly hampered their patient’s quality of life.
Parting Words
Taking care of a loved one on bed rest can seem challenging initially. However, setting a routine and taking precautionary steps ensures a healthy and safe recovery. Bed sores and infections are common in people resting for a long time. Make sure they are always clean and dry, dressed in breathable clothes, and have pillows & mattresses that support their body.
