Preventing Bedsores

The best option when it comes to bedsores is prevention, rather than treatment. This is because the recovery time for bedsores can be lengthy, expensive, and uncertain. By preventing the initial occurrence of bedsores, doctors can focus on treating the actual illness or injury that led to the hospitalization. Preventing bedsores reduces recovery times, saves money, and allows for a better overall prognosis for the patient.

For residents of nursing homes, bedsore prevention can help to maintain quality of life and ensure better overall physical and emotional health. Preventing bedsores also saves the nursing home facility money in terms of treatments as well. Because Medicare no longer pays for bedsores which develop in the course of hospital stays, practicing preventative measures can also help the patient and his or her family to save money as well if for some reason the resident has to be hospitalized. This is because the overall prevention of bedsores in the nursing home setting will provide adequate nutrition and techniques which will reduce the risk of a bedsore developing during a short hospital stay.   

The pages in this section cover the necessary equipment, procedures and processes that can contribute to bedsore prevention. Preventing bedsores takes a proactive approach from several facets of health care, and it requires input and evaluation by not only doctors, but nurses, nutritionists and others. By taking a team approach, bedsores can be prevented in almost all cases.