Bedsores can be incredibly painful and they often feel nearly inevitable. When you have limited mobility, the constant pressure on your skin can cause these to develop despite your best efforts, and that same limited mobility can make it nearly impossible for them to heal.
However, you need to know that experts say a full 95 percent of these sores can be prevented when the right steps are taken. One important one is known as pressure relief, which simply means taking pressure off of that area during the day. This can be done in various ways, such as lifting yourself up or moving to a new position. Lying the same way day in and day out is problematic, so, even when it’s difficult, it’s important to vary your positions.
It’s also important to take care of your skin by keeping it dry and cleaning it on a regular basis. This can be a challenge, but the nursing home staff can help if you can’t do it on your own. This also gives you a chance to check for problems or early signs of bedsores on a daily basis.
Blood supply to the area is perhaps the most crucial component, and that’s why a lack of movement is so detrimental. It makes blood flow and circulation hard. These are already challenges for your body as you age, so you need to do what you can to promote healthy blood flow every day.
Have you developed bedsores that could easily have been prevented? Perhaps you were neglected by the staff and didn’t get the care you needed. If so, you must know your legal rights in Illinois. You may have a case against the staff and the nursing home.
Source: Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, “Skin Care & Pressure Sores – Preventing Pressure Sores,” accessed Nov. 10, 2016