| Whenever a patient is in a nursing home, that patient is | | | | simply unable to spend the necessary amount of time |
| at risk of developing a bedsore. Although there are | | | | with each patient to ensure that the guidelines are |
| both and federal and state guidelines specifically | | | | being followed. Sadly, understaffing at nursing homes is |
| designed to prevent bed sores, many nursing homes | | | | a serious problem that leads to patient neglect. |
| and hospitals have failed to follow these guidelines. As | | | | For example, many residents are immobile and unable |
| a result, nursing home patients are developing | | | | to regularly reposition themselves while lying in bed. |
| bedsores at an alarming rate. This article is designed to | | | | The guidelines require nurses and aides to physically |
| help patients and their families prevent bedsores when | | | | move these patients every few hours to prevent |
| in a nursing home. | | | | bedsores. Unfortunately, by the time an overwhelmed |
| First, some background. What is a bedsore? A | | | | nurse gets around to checking on the resident, the |
| bedsore is skin and tissue that has died because it has | | | | two-hour time frame in which a bedsore can develop |
| not received sufficient oxygen from the body. Since | | | | has already expired. Similarly, bedsores are also |
| blood carries oxygen to all parts of our body, a | | | | caused by prolonged exposure of the skin to moisture. |
| bedsore is developed when the blood vessels that | | | | It is no wonder then that patients who are left to sit for |
| feed the skin are compressed or damaged in some | | | | hours in urine soaked diapers and sheets quickly |
| manner. | | | | develop bedsores in places that go unnoticed by the |
| The compression or damage prevents the blood from | | | | nursing home staff and family members alike. Sadly, |
| reaching the skin and the skin cells begin to die. If the | | | | the situation spirals out of control and the resident |
| blood supply continues to be damaged or | | | | suffers because the staff could not make time to |
| compromised, more tissue will die. Eventually, the blood | | | | provide them with dry diapers and sheets. |
| supply compromise can infect the underlying tissue, | | | | So, what should patients do to prevent these |
| bones and joints. It takes as little as two (2) hours of | | | | devastating injuries? Fortunately, nursing homes fear |
| sustained blood flow compromise to begin this | | | | the civil tort system where juries can hold them |
| process. | | | | financially accountable for failing to follow the guidelines. |
| Bedsores are common in the lower back, buttocks | | | | Family members should not hesitate to seek legal |
| and on other boney protrusions that routinely come in | | | | advice if their loved one develops a bedsore. In |
| contact with a patient's bed. Although every patient in | | | | addition, family members should go to the web, print up |
| a nursing home is susceptible to bedsores, the majority | | | | several copies of the guidelines and bring them to the |
| of cases are easily preventable. The United States | | | | nursing home. Family members should sit down with |
| Department of Health and Human Services has | | | | the nursing home's medical director to ensure that the |
| published clinical guidelines for bedsore prevention since | | | | guidelines are being followed with respect to their |
| 1992. | | | | loved one. They should leave a copy of the guidelines |
| These guidelines can be found at In addition, all nursing | | | | prominently displayed on the resident's bedside table. |
| homes are required to enact, publish, and follow similar | | | | Finally, family members should follow-up in writing |
| guidelines to prevent bedsores. Despite longstanding | | | | asking the director of medicine and nursing if the |
| published guidelines, why is it then that nursing home | | | | guidelines are being followed on an every other-day |
| patients continue to develop bedsores resulting in | | | | basis. |
| hospitalizations, medical complications and, in some | | | | The real key is involvement. Family members cannot |
| instances, death? | | | | sit back and blindly trust that their loved ones are in |
| Basically, the failure of healthcare facilities to employ | | | | good hands. Most residents are already in poor health |
| enough qualified staff members is the primary reason | | | | when they enter a nursing home facility. Therefore, |
| for the high incidents of bedsores. Typically, licensed | | | | any neglect can have serious physical consequences. |
| practical nurses that work in a nursing home setting | | | | It is only by being a patient advocate in the manner set |
| are less experienced and cheaper to employ when | | | | forth above that family members can ensure that their |
| compared to registered nurses. Furthermore, the | | | | loved one is receiving the federally and state |
| resident to nurse ratio is very high. The nurses are | | | | mandated required bedsore prevention care. |