Seniors with mobility challenges, either bedbound, bedridden, or in a wheelchair, may develop bedsores. As a primary caregiver, understanding why these ulcers form, who is at risk, and tips to prevent them go a long way in improving the quality of life of your loved one.
For family caregivers who are faced with caring for an aging parent who is homebound, there is help. By inviting home health nursing professionals into the home to help with everything from preventing pressure sores to offering companionship, adult children can feel secure that their aging parents are being cared for by compassionate and caring professionals.
What are bedsores?
Pressure sores, also known as bed sores, are wounds that develop when prolonged and constant pressure is applied to the skin. The pressure from lying on a bed, wearing a cast for a long time, or sitting in a wheelchair prevents normal blood flow to the skin, causing the healthy cells to be damaged or even destroyed, and a sore appears.
Pressure ulcers start as purple or red marks on the skin; if untreated, they break the skin, causing open wounds. In serious cases, the ulcers cause deep wounds in the skin, exposing the bone and increasing the risk of infections.
How common are bedsores?
Bedsores significantly impact the quality of life of over 2.5 million people annually in the United States alone. These painful lesions raise the risk of severe infection and necessitate heightened healthcare engagement.
Their prevalence underscores the importance of consistent patient monitoring, meticulous care, and regular movement for those with limited mobility due to age, injury, or illness.
What are other names for bedsores?
Bedsores are also called pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers, pressure sores, or pressure injuries.
The terminology used can be descriptive depending on how serious the wound is. For instance, a ‘stage four pressure ulcer’ refers to a wound with full-thickness tissue loss, while a ‘stage one pressure ulcer’ refers to a wound affecting only the epidermis.
You may also come across the terms sacral ulcers and heel ulcers describing bedsores based on where they form. Sacral ulcers are sores forming on your back between the tailbone and the lumbar spine, and heel ulcers form on the heel.
What causes bedsores?
Bedsores form when the skin’s blood supply is cut off for over two or three hours. As the skin dies, it turns red, gets tender/painful, breaks open, and may get infected.
If left untreated, bedsores can eat through soft tissue to the bone. They are slow to heal, taking even a year, depending on wound severity, your loved one’s physical condition, and whether they have diabetes and other similar conditions or diseases. Surgery may be necessary to help the healing process if it’s severe.
Pressure ulcers often form on the buttocks, heels, shoulder blades, back of the head, and the sides and back of the knees.
What are the risk factors for bedsores?
The risk of pressure ulcers is higher for individuals who cannot sense pain, are bedridden, unconscious, or immobile. It’s even worse when an individual isn’t turned or positioned properly and lacks proper nutrition and hydration.
Medical conditions that affect blood flow, like vascular disease, heart failure, and diabetes, also increase the risk of bedsore formation. Weight loss leaves a patient with less padding in bony areas, increasing skin friction and making it easier to develop bedsores.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s can make it difficult for your loved one to know when they should reposition themselves. Even worse, these conditions may prevent residents from seeking help when in pain or uncomfortable.
For elderly parents who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair, it’s important to have Alzheimer’s disease care. Our caregivers know how painful these pressure sores are and how they can be prevented.
What are the symptoms of bedsores?
Bedsores typically exhibit the following symptoms:
- Changes in skin texture and color
- Presence of swelling in the affected area.
- Drainage of pus-like substance from the skin.
- Affected areas of the skin feel either cooler or warmer compared to surrounding areas.
- Tender or painful spots on the skin.
It’s important to note that bed sores have different stages with varying severity. Each stage has its symptoms. In stage one, the affected area appears discolored, slightly warmer than the surrounding skin, and has mild itching and discomfort. The skin hasn’t broken yet.
The affected area progresses to an open wound or blister in the second stage. The skin may begin to break down, exposing the underlying tissue. At this point, the skin is very painful and requires immediate medical attention to prevent further damage and infection.
In stage three, the bedsores are much larger and deeper. The wound may extend into the deeper layers of skin, causing a hollow, crater-like appearance. In some cases, it may also expose muscle or bone, making it more difficult to treat and may require surgical intervention.
Stage four is the most severe. At this point, the bedsores are deep into the muscle and bone, causing serious damage to these tissues. The skin may appear black or dark in color, indicating the presence of dead tissue. The patient may also experience severe pain and discomfort, and the risk of infection is extremely high. Immediate medical care is crucial to prevent further complications and preserve the patient’s health.
What are the complications of bedsores?
Once formed, bedsores can lead to a host of complications. Their healing process ranges from days to months or years. Infection is a common complication, which may manifest symptoms like fever and chills. When the infection spreads throughout the body, it causes mental confusion, rapid heartbeat, and overall weakness.
If left unaddressed, bedsores can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, while the infection causes sepsis, an extreme body response that causes tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. In other instances, the infection can cause septic arthritis and osteomyelitis, which damage tissue and cartilage and reduce limb and joint function.
How to prevent pressure sores
For elderly parents who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair, it’s important for caregivers to know how these painful pressure sores can be prevented.
- Relieve pressure on the area
The number one way to prevent pressure sores is to make sure the pressure is spread out. This means that the
patient must not have pressure on one spot for too long. To avoid this, it is recommended that caregivers change the patient’s position at least every two hours.
It is also important to avoid sitting or lying in the same position for extended periods. For those confined to a wheelchair, changing position every fifteen minutes is encouraged.
- Keep the affected area clean and dry
Keeping the skin around the pressure sore clean and dry is important. Use mild soap and warm water to clean the area, and pat it dry with a soft towel. Do not rub the area, as this can further damage the skin.
- Protect the skin
Place a soft dressing or cushion over the pressure sore to protect it from further damage. This will also help to keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Good skincare to keep the skin soft and moisturized helps keep it from breaking and drying out.
- Eat a nutritious diet
A healthy and balanced diet can help to promote healing and prevent the development of pressure sores. Be sure to feed your loved one food rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and drink plenty of fluids.
Eating the right foods can work wonders for the body at any stage in life. For the elderly who are bedridden or wheelchair-bound, a healthy diet of protein and lots of fluids will help keep the skin healthy by promoting faster healing if a bed sore should appear.
- Immediately Clean Up after Soiling
In later years, it may be difficult for the elderly to control their bladder or bowels. If this is the case, anytime there is soiling, the skin needs to be gently cleaned immediately. Using pads that help soak up moisture will help keep them drier as well.
- Check the Skin Everyday
A thorough examination of the skin should be done every day to check for bed sores. The more susceptible areas to pay particular attention to include bony areas, like the elbows and hips. If the aging parent is overweight, don’t forget to check skin folds.
- Seek medical treatment for pressure ulcers
If you or your loved one develops a pressure sore, seek medical treatment immediately. Medical experts may prescribe medication to relieve pain, prevent infection, and promote healing. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to treat the pressure sore.
How often is repositioning necessary?
You should reposition your bedridden loved one every two hours to keep the blood flowing. Those in wheelchairs should be repositioned every hour to preserve the skin’s health and prevent bedsores. While turning your loved one, check them for sores or skin redness.
The duration of each repositioning session may vary depending on the patient’s condition, the severity of the pressure sores, and the type of pressure-relieving device used. For instance, if a patient has advanced pressure sores and is in severe pain, they may require more frequent repositioning with advanced pressure-relieving devices like alternating pressure mattresses or automated turning systems.
Prevent or manage bedsores with help from Trusted Touch Healthcare
Being the primary caregiver to your loved one can be challenging. Often you have to choose between putting your life on hold or chasing a balance that’s almost impossible to attain. The latter puts you at the risk of burnout or missing the mark with your loved one’s care, leaving them susceptible to bedsores.
With home healthcare professionals from Trusted Touch Healthcare, you have an extra set of hands to help you care for your loved one. They’ll help manage the primary illness or condition, including dementia and Alzheimer’s while taking necessary steps to prevent bedsores.
We can develop a curated plan based on your budget and routine. Even better, we’ll coordinate the care plan with the doctor’s instructions to ensure quality and efficient service. Contact us today to take positive steps against preventing and healing bedsores on your loved one.
