Being bedridden is not a new thing for the elderly whose bodies deteriorate over time. As the body gradually ages, mobility limitations gradually increase. One thing that inevitably comes with bedridden conditions is pressure sores that may gradually spread without the caregiver knowing. By the time the caregiver realizes it, the sores may have already become large. However, this does not mean that bedridden patients will always have pressure sores on their bodies. Currently, there are many new methods to reduce the risk of pressure sores, whether in terms of care or equipment to help prevent pressure sores.
First, caregivers should understand how pressure sores occur so that they can prepare for prevention correctly.
Normally, pressure sores occur when patients are unable to move their bodies and are in the same context for a long time. Such as sitting in a wheelchair for a long time or ufabet http://ufabet999.app lying in bed for several days in a row. This results in body weight pressing on blood vessels and preventing the blood from transporting nutrients and oxygen easily, resulting in pressure sores.
Caregivers can reduce the risk of pressure sores by turning bedridden patients every 2 hours by alternating sleeping positions, such as lying on their sides, left-right, or supine. Turning patients every 2 hours can be a burden for caregivers. Currently, there are a variety of pressure sore prevention devices available, such as honeycomb air mattresses, corrugated air mattresses. And pressure-distributing foam mattresses designed specifically to prevent pressure sores. They can choose the one that is most suitable.
However, even though bedridden patients are using pressure sore prevention devices, they still need to be turned regularly.
This is because turning regularly is the best way to prevent pressure sores. Using these devices can extend the turning period from every 2 hours to 4 hours. In addition, keeping the mattress clean and free from moisture from urine. Or sweat can also reduce the risk of pressure sores.
An absorbent pad can be placed under the patient and if the patient urinates, a new pad should be replaced immediately to improve moisture control. In caring for bedridden patients,
caregivers should pay attention to and frequently check risky areas on the patient’s body. Such as the head, buttocks, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders, for pressure sores. This can be observed from redness on the skin, which is an early sign of stage 1 pressure sores.
If left untreated, the sores may start to spread deeper into the skin, muscles, and bones, respectively. If treated promptly, it will greatly reduce the burden on caregivers because treating pressure sores is more expensive and difficult to care for than preventing them.