Five Tips To Help You Prevent Bed Sores On Your Bedridden Loved One
When a loved one is confined to bed with an illness or injury, the risk of bed sores is a real concern. Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers, are caused when the skin and underlying tissues are damaged due to prolonged pressure on one area. If you have a family member who must remain in bed for any length of time, it’s important to know how to prevent these painful sores from developing.
This is why we at Maritona Health Services, Inc. have written down five tips to help you prevent bed sores on your bedridden loved one.
Tip #1: Reposition the patient every two hours
Bed sores form due to prolonged pressure on areas of bony prominences in the body. Take the hip, for example. When a person lies on his left hip, his weight makes the hip bone put pressure on the skin.
This pressure compresses the skin alongside the elastic blood vessels delivering blood to that area of skin. Compressed blood vessels won’t transmit sufficient blood to that area of skin, and if this spans for a long time, it’ll lead to skin breakdown, resulting in bed sores.
Repositioning the patient frequently will relieve these compressed areas, thereby restoring the sufficiency of blood flow.
Tip #2: Keep the patient’s skin clean and dry
Moisture may be due to excessive sweating or incontinence. In both cases, this can lead to skin breakdown. Bath the patient with mild soap and warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft and clean towel. Pay particular attention to keeping areas of skin folds dry, as moisture can accumulate in such areas.
Tip #3: Ensure good nutrition and adequate hydration
Nutrition plays an important role in preventing bed sores as well. A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients helps support healthy skin and tissue repair throughout the body. A balanced diet will help promote healthy tissue and good immunity. Hydration is just as important. Make sure your loved one stays hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day. Eating well and getting enough hydration will promote healthy skin and prevent skin breakdown.
Tip #4: Ensure properly fitted clothing
When worn, oversized clothes fold up in different areas. This can pose great risks to bed-bound patients who may lie on these folds and have them press against their skin, increasing pressure on the area. This can ultimately lead to skin breakdown and bed sore formation. Always dress the patient in properly fitted clothing.
Tip #5: Support pressure points with the use of special materials to relieve pressure
Pressure points are the areas of bony prominences where bed sores are likely to form. These areas include the hip, ankle, Elbow, back of the head, buttocks, and heels. Supporting these areas with materials that’ll reduce pressure on the overlying skin will go a long way in preventing bed sores. Examples of such materials include pressure-reducing mattresses, fluidized air mattresses, and air rings.
If you are looking for home health care assistance and caregiver services in Fort Bend County, TX, reach out to us at Maritona Health Services, Inc. We are dedicated to providing the highest comprehensive quality home care to patients in the privacy and comfort of their homes. We believe in a team approach that involves the patient, physician, family, loved ones, and our dedicated professionals in providing safe and cost-effective care. Our staff believes that quality healthcare is a basic human right for all ages, races, creeds, colors, and gender.
We offer services like skilled nursing (RN/LVN), physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, personal assistance services, and pediatric care. We offer our services to clients across Brazoria, Colorado, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Wharton, Chambers County, Fort Bend County, Harris County, Walker County, and the surrounding areas.
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