Getting Help From Trained Nursing Professionals

Do you remember where you were when you realized you needed almost constant medical help? Life becomes less fun and less fulfilling sometimes when you struggle with ongoing medical problems, which is why nursing homes and assisted living facilities are such a valuable resource. I started focusing on finding great new places that could help me out, and I narrowed down the search quickly to include a business that was near to my home. After I moved in, I could tell that a tremendous burden had been lifted, and it was a really nice feeling. Check out this blog for more information.

Assisted Living Interventions For Residents With Decubitus Ulcers

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Decubitus ulcers are also called pressure ulcers and bedsores. They can develop in people who have poor circulation, limited mobility, and incontinence issues. They are more common in people who are bedridden, however, anyone can develop pressure ulcers. If you recently admitted an aging loved one with decubitus ulcers into an assisted living facility, the staff will provide them with the following interventions to help heal their existing decubitus ulcers and to help prevent future ulcers from developing.

Position Changes And Incontinence Care Interventions 

To keep undue pressure off of the resident's bony prominences and skin, the staff will turn and reposition your loved one every couple of hours if the individual is unable to change positions on their own. If they are left in the same position for long periods of time, the skin may start to break down.

The assisted living staff will also perform meticulous incontinence care to keep your loved one comfortable, preserve their dignity, and make sure that urine and stool are quickly cleaned up so that it does not irritate the skin and cause breakdown. Ointments such as petroleum jelly or zinc oxide can also be applied to the perineal area to provide a barrier between the resident's skin and urine and stool, to further lower the risk for additional decubitus ulcers and excoriation.

Wound Care And Nutritional Interventions

The assisted living nursing staff will also provide wound care to your loved one's decubitus ulcers in accordance with the physician's orders. Wound care interventions may include cleansing the area with normal saline solution, sterile water, or an antimicrobial wash, applying an antibiotic ointment to the affected areas, and covering the ulcer with a sterile dressing. Measurements of the decubitus ulcers may also be taken to monitor the results of the treatment.

If the ulcers are getting smaller, then the same treatment will probably continue. Conversely, if the wounds are getting bigger or not showing signs of healing, the nurse will notify the doctor who may change the skin treatment protocol. In addition to wound care, the staff can also provide your loved one with nutritious meals high in vitamin C and lean protein to further help the skin heal.

Nutritional supplemental shakes can also be provided in between meals which are high in vitamins and minerals to further help promote healthy skin, enhance healing, and to help prevent pressure ulcers from becoming infected.

If your loved one has been admitted into an assisted living facility with existing decubitus ulcers, talk to the director of nursing about the above interventions. With proper wound care and nutritional intervention, the ulcers may heal quicker and your loved one may be less likely to develop permanent soft tissue injury, scarring, and bone infections from serious deep wounds.

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16 May 2023