A research study concluded by researchers at Brown University concluded nursing homes with a higher Hispanic populations have higher rates of bed sores (also known as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers) than facilities with less minorities. The results are detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The…
Ray Mullman at the South Carolina Nursing Home Blog recently wrote about one of the most progressive piece of legislation passed in years– the mandatory use of pressure relieving mattresses in New Jersey Nursing Homes to help prevent the development of bedsores. Unlike normal spring-filled mattresses, pressure relieving mattresses steadily…
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed what many nursing home residents and employees already know– pressure ulcers are a tremendous problem encountered be nursing home residents of all races, sexes and ages. The report,“Pressure Ulcers Among Nursing Home Resident: United States, 2004” analyzes information…
By the time a pressure ulcer has progressed to Stage 4, the wound is deep the muscle and bone in the area is involved–usually decayed. Frequently, infection can develop in the dead tissue impeding the healing process. Advanced stage pressure ulcers need to be free of dead or damaged tissue…
An increasing number of number of pressure sore cases my office is working on involve pressure sores that have developed during a hospitalization. What was once considered a sad symbol of poor nursing home care, is now increasingly associated with poor hospital care. Many of our clients who enter a hospital for acute care, wind…
A blog reader recently wrote, “The nursing home says my dad’s bedsores were unpreventable. Is this the case, or are some bedsores an unavoidable part of living in a nursing home?” No! The nursing home is lying to your face is is probably trying to cover their own. Bedsores, also…
This week my office was contacted by the family of a man who had a stage IV bedsore on his head. The man was a resident at a well-known Chicago nursing home for several years. Bedsores are caused by unrelieved pressure or friction on a patients body. If left untreated,…
A client emailed me this disturbing You Tube video on pressure sores. The video is graphic, but demonstrates the horrific pressure sores that may develop without proper nursing care. The video has photos of: Pressure sores on hips Pressure sores on buttocks Pressure sores on feet Pressure sores on heels…
Nursing home visits are great for both residents and their friends and families. Everyone is usually happy to see each other and discuss current world topics, the weather, baseball or food. However, don’t let the smiles distract you from what should be a secondary reason for visiting friends and family members…
Development of a pressure sore can be devastating for both the individual and his or her family. Frequently, there are questions as to how to properly treat the wound. Before an adequate treatment plan can be developed, it is important to conduct a thorough assessment of the wounds. Below is…