Bed
Sore Prevention in Nursing Homes
Looking after loved
ones in a Nursing Home adds a challenge to all people involved.
Pressure sores or bedsores are more likely to occur in elderly
patients who are confined to a bed or chair. The data collected by many
agencies indicate that 1 in 5 ( or more ) people confined to bed or
chair in a Nursing Home will develop pressure sores or bedsores.
Most methods of prevention are expensive; an alternating pressure
bed will cost between $5000 - $10000. These specialized beds may be
necessary if Stage 3 or Stage 4 Pressure Sores are allowed to
develop. Wool fleece products offer an effective, economical and practical method of
preventing Pressure Sores and Bedsores.
In
US hospitals nationwide, the incidence of bedsores ranges from 2.7
to 29.5 percent, while in nursing homes and residential facilities;
that figure is 23 percent (Treatment
of Pressure Ulcers, Clinical Guideline Number 3, Agency Health Care
Research and Quality, Publication No. 95–0652: December 1994.
These data refer to 1994, but recent data suggests these numbers are
being exceeded because the aging population is adding more and more
people to Nursing Home care.
Our customers have found
the following products well suited for Nursing Home use. They are recommended
because they are effective, economical and will not be damaged by incontinence
or harsh laundry treatment.
Click on
any Blue Term
to get more information or to Order the Product.
F102L - The Hospital Wool Fleece- 35" x 80"-
a dense fine wool-pile pad that covers most of the bed and
attaches with elastic corner straps. We recommend that the user lies
directly on the wool for maximum benefit. Machine wash and dry. To
order and for more information, click:
Order
F103A- Waterprooof Breathable Nursing Fleece- 32" x 60"
Protect the user against skin damage and the mattress from wetness
with this popular and effective Fleece. Machine wash and dry.
F103B - Waterproof Breathable Wheelchair Nursing Fleece- 20' x 36".
Ideal for the protection of incontinent clients during
wheelchair use. Covers the back and seat
F103C - Waterproof Breathable Wheelchair Seat Pad - 18" x 20"
Wool-Pile Seat cover that feels good, reduces pressure
and absorbs moisture. Protects the skin and the chair.
M129D - Wool-Pile Pillow Cover with zip - 17" x 27" Ideally
suited to those people with ear abrasion problems. Rest the head
directly on the wool for maximum benefit.
M111- Sheepskin Walker Handle Cover - Machine washable
sheepskin cuts skin sweating and discomfort during walker use.
M115 - Sheepskin Hand Posies with Spacer. Ideal for
clients with protracted fingers. Spacer can be easily removed or
made smaller.
M117 - Wool Limb Sleeves: (S, M, L, XL.) Surround a
limb with wool-pile for added warmth and comfort.
M160 - Lambswool Foot Warmers: ( S. M. L ) Ideal for
clients with reduced foot circulation; those who always have "cold
feet".
M161 - Orthopedic Wrap Booties: Total foot control. Ideal
for people who have had recent surgery.
L101: Footcare Lambswool: Very fine wool rope for winding
around toes to prevent pressure and abrasion.
W106 - Woolskin: Lambswool Shampoo & Sheepskin
Conditioner
Bed sores tend to develop on older people who are confined to bed or chair.
As one ages the skin becomes thinner and more easily damaged. Most often
pressure sores are first seen in the tailbone or ankle areas.
Fortunately, the risk of developing bed sores can be reduced
significantly. Preventing bedsores is the logical and most humane
method you have of caring for those confined to a bed or wheelchair.
Bedsores are unnecessary and, 95% of the time, can be prevented. -
American Family Physician, October 1996: v54, n5,
p1519 (14)
Bed Sore
Prevention Guidelines:
1. Take care of the skin:
Inspect the skin daily. Pay special attention to red areas and
pressure points. Minimize moisture contact with the skin.
Dense Wool-Pile will reduce pressure and wick moisture away from the
skin, keeping it dry.
2. Protect the skin from injury:
Avoid massaging skin over bony areas. Change body position at least
every 2 hours- more frequently in a chair. Reduce friction (
rubbing) by lifting rather than dragging. Do not use donut shape
cushions. These can increase the risk of getting pressure ulcers by
reducing blood flow in the areas of contact with the cushion. If the patient is confined to bed,
reduce
pressure points with a dense wool -pile. The head of the
bed should be raised as little as possible. When the head of the bed
is raised above 30 degrees, the skin may slide over the bed surface,
damaging skin and small blood vessels. Pillows or wedges should be
used to keep knees and ankles from touching each other. Patients
should avoid lying directly on the hip bone when lying on their
side. Pillows and Medical Sheepskin may help. If the patient is
completely immobile, pillows should be put under their legs from
mid-calf to ankle to keep heels off the bed. Never place pillows
under the knees. This cuts off blood circulation.
Use dense fine Wool-Pile to protect the skin from injury.
3. Eat well:
Eat a balance diet. Proteins and calories are very important for
healthy skin. Healthy skin is less liable to be damaged.
4. Improve the patients ability to move:
A rehabilitation program can help some people gain movement and
independence. The patient can help to prevent most pressure
sores.
Bed Sores, decubitus ulcers and pressure sores develop through 4
stages. Notify your medical practitioner and nursing staff if you
notice any of the following:
Stage 1. You will notice redness of the intact skin. The skin is
unbroken, but inflamed and may be painful and warm to the touch. You
might also notice the skin's texture may be spongy or firm.
Stage 2. Here you will see the first sign of skin breakdown and
partial skin loss. It will look like an abrasion, blister or shallow
crater. The outer layer of the skin is broken, red and painful.
Surrounding tissue may be pale, red or swollen.
Stages 3 & 4 result in ulcer production. The skin has broken down
and there is extensive destruction or damage to the underlying
muscle, bone or supporting structures.
Ulcers are extremely difficult to heal and may take many months for
complete repair. Preventing the development of an ulcer should be
considered seriously.
Stage 4 Pressure Sore
Bed sores, decubitus ulcers
and pressure sores are unnecessary and
can be prevented. Prevention is possible when you create an
environment for the patient that does not foster the formation of
bedsores. This environment can be created with the use of a wool
fleece.
If a bed sore has developed
already, the best thing that you can do is to try and remove the
cause of the bed sore. Pressure often causes bedsores. Pressure
against the small blood vessels in the skin will cause them to
collapse. Thus, blood flow to that area will cut off. Skin cells
will be deprived of oxygen and nutrients and will die. The death of
the skin is the beginning of what will become a bed sore. To
prevent this from happening, you must reduce the pressure on the
skin. This can be achieved by lying/sitting on a wool fleece. Wool
will wick moisture away
from the skin; keeping it dry and firm. Moist skin is more likely to
tear when a person moves. Wool reduces
friction. If a person lies directly on a wool fleece, skin abrasion and tears are less likely to happen.
Order online, using the secure payment gateway;
chosen by Google for its own online transactions. Or, if you are not
sure about the best product for your situation,
call us at: 1- 800- 463- 1985.
Click
Catalogue to see
our products and to order on-line.
We recommend that you
clean, condition and disinfect all sheepskin and wool products with
Woolskin...the
Sheepskin Shampoo &
Conditioner.
Benchmark for quality service since 1986
We
want to make sure that you receive the product best suited to your
need. If you have any questions about our products or their use for
medical conditions, please contact us. We are here to help
you!
Phone:
1- 800 - 463 - 1985
FAX : 905
-
295 - 3816
Send
mail to:
sales (at) medicalsheepskins.com
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