Bed sores: Care for the bedridden

If you have a bedridden elderly member at home, life is not going to be the same again. The daily drama will take its toll eventually.

Consider a common issue - the bed sore. It starts with a little redness, and before you know, a little of the skin looks like it has been rubbed off. Next, raw flesh is exposed. It gets bigger before your eyes and the hole deepens till your fist can fit into it.

If quick care isn't taken, a greater misfortune can follow. Hospitalisation at this stage would mean plenty of dressings, a plastic surgery and generous doses of antibiotics - all at a high cost, and an avoidable one, if I may add.

Detect the problem

Bed sores/ Pressure ulcers are skin damage caused by remaining in one position for too long. They can potentially be serious and they are a complication of many conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They can also occur in other conditions which affect mobility, for example Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Arthritis and Multi-system Atrophy. Bedsores are usually found on areas such as the heels, ankles, hips, buttocks, back and shoulders.

Pressure is caused by a person's weight, for example when they are sitting or lying down. Sitting or lying for long periods of time without moving causes pressure sores because blood can't circulate properly to keep tissue healthy. Bed sores/ Pressure ulcers are also caused by skin rubbing when someone tries to move or is moved and the sticking or dragging of the skin which can occur due to the resistance caused by mobility problems. Additionally rubbing and dragging can cause bedsore wound dressings to get knocked off, slowing down the healing process and making the problem worse.

Make sure the elderly patient is gently moved over from one side to another, every 40 minutes or so. Be careful when moving as frictional forces can breakdown skin and start the formation of a bed sore/ pressure ulcer. Whilst sponging, inspect the susceptive areas for redness, tenderness, shine, rawness and pain. Sponging is an energy-consuming and underestimated activity that has to be carefully done. In case a hired help is doing it, it should be monitored well. There are symptoms that a sponger can detect and should report to the doctor.

When spotted early, the sores are easy to tackle. You can use special fabrics, lotions, powders and creams that can be placed, sprinkled or rubbed to prevent further damage. Investment in these products could well save a life.

Red means go

Applying Parafricta to the skin area where there is a sign of redness as this can significantly reduce the chances of the patient forming a bed sore/ pressure ulcer.

"RED MEANS GO"