Nursing Homes and Bedsores

Bedsores often develop in nursing homes when there is insufficient staff, or when staff members are not trained on proper prevention techniques. For many years, the prevailing attitude has been that bedsores are an unfortunate, but unavoidable occurrence in nursing homes – however, this is far from the truth. Bedsores can be successfully prevented in many cases if the nursing home makes a concentrated effort to address potential problems before they occur, and to handle any new problems as soon as they develop, rather than taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.

If you are considering placing your loved one into a nursing home, you should ask about the incidence of bedsores in the facility, and try to get a feel for the prevailing attitude in the nursing home when it comes to bedsores and bedsore prevention. Avoid any facility where staff members and management seem to be resigned to the occurrence of bedsores as a fact of nursing home life. You should also be wary of any facility that does not have a specialized plan in place to deal with bedsores specifically.

When your loved one is admitted to the nursing home, you should pay attention to the risk assessment portion of the care plan. Has the risk level for bedsores been adequately and professionally assessed? If your loved one has a high risk of developing bedsores, what prevention practices will be incorporated into the care plan? Asking questions like these can help you to understand the bedsore prevention process of the nursing home, as well as reinforce your loved one’s understanding as well. Be prepared to follow-up and ensure that the nursing home facility actually follows the care plan and provides the necessary support to your loved one.

You should also be prepared to check for any signs of bedsores whenever you visit your loved one. Because these types of sores often appear in areas that are not readily visible, you may wish to ask your loved one’s physician or nurse to perform an examination on days that you are able to visit. The nursing home staff should check your loved one’s skin daily for signs of bedsores, and any developing wound should be promptly treated. Additionally, you should be notified promptly of any changes in your loved one’s condition, including the development of bedsores. By remaining actively involved in your loved one’s care, you can help minimize the risk that he or she will develop bedsores while in the care of the nursing home facility.