Good for the elderly
But the following are helpful overall strategies:
How are bedsores treated?
The fastest way to get rid of bedsores is to relieve the pressure, keep the wound clean, take antibiotics and to employ other strategies. Bedsores are wounds that develop over several days or months due to prolonged pressure on the skin. The condition is most common in bedridden patients.
Treatment for bedsores depends on the stage and depth of the wound. You can clean stage one ulcers with mild soap and water and cover with a moisture-barrier lotion. More advanced bedsores may require medical care. Your care team may clean the wound with saline and cover it with a special bandage.
Cleaning and dressing wounds
How to Prevent Bed Sores in Elderly Loved Ones
Infections in the bone and joint areas can move around the body easily, causing a full body infection, which can be fatal. Bed sores themselves are not fatal. It is the negligence and delayed treatment of bed sores that lead to serious infections, which in turn cause the ultimate death of a patient.
The main cause of bedsores among seniors is nursing home neglect. Elders are at a higher risk of bedsores if they cannot easily move on their own. Bedsores typically develop when someone cannot reposition their body over a long period of time. Without movement, the skin loses blood flow and eventually decays.
Keep the sore covered with a special dressing. This protects against infection and helps keep the sore moist so it can heal. Talk with your provider about what type of dressing to use. Depending on the size and stage of the sore, you may use a film, gauze, gel, foam, or other type of dressing.
Because DuoDerm essentially creates a moisture barrier, they should not be used on people with infected bed sores. Under normal circumstances, wounds covered with DuoDerm are likely to develop a strong odor after several days.
After cleaning, apply an ointment (such as A+D ointment) to keep the area dry. Use underpads to keep the patient from soiling the bed and to make it easier to clean up. Don’t use plastic underwear unless the patient is out of bed. If the skin has an open sore, ask about special dressings to help protect it.
For eczema and acne, it calms and heals the cracked or sore skin when it’s difficult to keep hydrated, forming a defensive barrier to decrease any further infection or irritation. Sudocrem can also help with bed sores, sunburn and chilblains, soothing the skin and reducing the risk of infection.
You can use any mild ointment, such as antibiotic cream or petroleum jelly (Vaseline). This will prevent the skin from becoming dry and will also protect the sore from dust, dirt, flies and other insects. Be careful not to rub or massage the skin around the pressure sore.
Making saline solution Use 1 quart (4 cups) of distilled water, or boil 1 quart of tap water for 5 minutes. Do not use well water or sea water. Add 2 teaspoons of table salt. Mix the water and salt well until the salt is completely dissolved.
Some of the best seat cushions for preventing pressure sores are:
People most at risk of bedsores have medical conditions that limit their ability to change positions or cause them to spend most of their time in a bed or chair. Bedsores can develop over hours or days. Most sores heal with treatment, but some never heal completely.