What do I do when a bedsore problem has been identified?

Condition analysis:
Once sores have been identified, treatment involves more than just giving attention to the site. If a resident is identified as either at high risk for development of pressure sores or is in fact already developing them, the standard of care requires that aggressive measures must be undertaken to prevent or stop and reverse their formation. What is a nursing home required to do? Turning and proper positioning, application of pressure reduction or relief devices, egg crate or gel mattress pads, propping pillows, providing good skin care (keep the skin clean and prevent excessive moisture), providing clean and dry bed linens. It is also critical that the resident receives adequate nutrition and hydration. This includes assistance with eating, supplements, calorie monitoring, and regular monitoring of weight and hydration levels. It is also vital that all health care providers are kept in the loop. It is not much help if the nursing assistant who has a handle on all of these things is on vacation during the critical period and no one knows what must be done.

Hospitals frequently use a tool known as the Braden Scale, or Braden Skin Assessment, to document the risk that a patient might develop a bed sore. The Braden Scale consists of a number of criteria, each of which has a numerical value. The total score determines the level of risk.

Instructions:
1) Honey and Vegetable Juices:
Combine two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of rhubarb (or beet) juice to create a healing paste that is applied to bedsores. If the mixture is too runny, add a bit of flour as a natural thickening agent. Cover the wound with a bandage and change daily.

2) Air Mattress:
To reduce the pressure of bedsore-affected skin, you may need to sleep on an air mattress to get a comfortable rest. The ‘cushion of ‘air’ that this type of mattress offers is less stressful than a mattress with springs.