Nursing home residents in Maryland are at risk for developing bedsores if they are neglected. Bedsores, also called pressure sores, are caused by excess pressure on the skin over a prolonged period of time. When blood flow is cut off from one area, the skin decays and develops into a sore. Bedsores get worse when left untreated and can become infected.
Here are four common causes of bedsores in nursing homes:
#1: Lack of movement
Many nursing home residents are immobile and require assistance to walk or even reposition themselves in bed. When a patient is left in the same position for too long, it creates pressure that can lead to bedsores. Bedsores usually develop on:
• Ankles
• Elbows
• Heels
• Hips
• Shoulder blades
• Spine
• Tailbone
• Toes
#2: Thin skin
Elderly people often have thin skin, which can put them at a higher risk for bedsores since their skin is more sensitive. Bedsores can develop within just a few hours of excess pressure, so repositioning patients frequently is important in nursing homes.
#3: Poor nutrition
Often, the cause of very fragile skin is poor nutrition. Poor nutrition can also cause many other health issues, which could make an elderly person less mobile and more susceptible to nursing home bedsores.
#4: Moisture
Excess moisture can cause bedsores to develop more easily and make existing bedsores become infected. This is one of the reasons proper care of hygiene needs is so important for nursing home residents.
Most of these problems stem from neglect
When a nursing home resident has bedsores, this is a clear sign that they have been neglected. Since nursing home residents require 24-hour care, it is up to staff to make sure that they do not develop bedsores.
