Get the Facts About Bed Sores and Elder Neglect
Most, if not all Bed sores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers should be prevented, and those which have formed need not necessarily get any worse says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck.
Each patient’s individual circumstances must be taken into consideration by the caregiver in order to develop a plan of care which will best assure the patient will not unnecessarily suffer from a pressure sore. The following generally represent some of the precautions which health care providers should, but too often fail to undertake:
1. An appropriate and thorough and systematic assessment must be made of the patient’s risk for developing a pressure sore;
2. Appropriate periodic reassessment should be made of the patient’s risk;
3. The patient should be bathed appropriately;
4. The patient’s incontinence should be assessed and treated to assure that moisture on the skin does not contribute to the development of a pressure sore;
5. Appropriate nutrition and hydration must be maintained;
6. Repositioning of the patient should occur with a frequency to assure that the pressure is adequately relieved;
7. Use of appropriate support devices should be maintained to relieve pressure from troublesome areas;
8. Postural alignment, distribution of weight, balance and stability, and pressure relief should be considered when positioning persons in chairs or wheelchairs;
9. Appropriate lifting devices and techniques should be used to assure that shear and friction related injuries are avoided;
10. Education should be given to the patient, family, and caregivers on measures to be taken to avoid pressure sores, and appropriate documentation of such measures.
It is essential to remember that every individual is different, and has different risk factors, thus requiring a customized plan of care and diligence in carrying out the plan of care.
About the Author
Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.