How-to Series: Caregiver 101 - Bedsores

Bedsores are injuries to skin and underlying tissues that result from prolonged pressure on the skin. They are also called pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers.   People most at risk of bedsores are those with a medical condition that limits their ability to change positions, requires them to use a wheelchair or confines them to a bed for prolonged periods.

Bedsores can happen very quickly and if not noticed right away can lead to very serious problems.  In fact, Christoper Reeves died of complications brought on by bedsores.  According to news reports, toxins from the infected ulcer entered his bloodstream, quickly causing organ failure.

Elderly people have thinner skin, which is more vulnerable to damage from minor pressure.  If a very elderly individual is underweight, there will be less "meat" around their bones.  Another common problem among very elderly patients is poor nutrition, which may affect skin and blood vessel quality, resulting in slower healing.

I found a couple of great articles that really goes into detail explaining everything caregivers need to know about bedsores.  The first one is from Medical News Today.  Another good one:  Why Bed Sores in the Elderly Should Concern Caregivers

Helpful Hint: My mom suggests using Diabet-X. She has used it for years and has had better results with it than anything the doctors have used. You can probably get it at any major drugstore or you can get it at Amazon using the following link:  Diabet-X

If you want even more information or want to know what bedsores look like, watch the following videos.  Warning:  The second video is pretty graphic and shows actual images of bedsores.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGpJWK0T28Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1fBcVfVY1Y


Article links
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173972.php
http://www.ecarediary.com/viewblog.aspx?BlogID=528