preventing pressure ulcers
DESCRIPTION
Preventing Pressure Ulcers. Pressure ulcers are one of the worst things that can happen to your elders. They’re a leading cause of suffering, amputation and death!. They ’ re a leading cause of death in elders. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Preventing Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers are one of the worst things that can happen to your elders.
They’re a leading cause of suffering, amputation and death!
They’re a leading cause of death in elders
Over 90% of elders who get a pressure ulcer within 3 months of admission to a nursing home die as the result!
Alert frontline caregiving is an important key!
Frontline caregivers are often the first to spot potential problems.
Your alertness may save an elder’s life!
So stay alert! Alert frontline caregivers are a first line of defense against pressure ulcers!
This is a pressure ulcer!
Prevention is the key!
And pressure ulcers are easy to prevent in most cases!
It’s not rocket science!
Just a few easy-to-do caregiving skills will prevent most pressure ulcers!
So what’s the problem?
Answer: Careless caregiving!
Where ulcers form
A few simple caregiving rules are the answer!
The secret to success:Do them faithfully, every day, all day long… without fail!
Tip Elders sitting in a chair, need to be repositioned every hour!
Warning: An hour goes by fast!
You need an alert system!
Tip: For elders lying down: 2 hours!
For your immobile elders who are lying down, they need repositioning every two hours… without fail!
Tip: Train them to move themselves
For those elders that are able, it is very helpful if you can train them to keep repositioning themselves when they are in a lying or sitting position.
Tip: Keep them dry and clean
Keep them clean and dry… Always!
Tip: Do a daily skin check
Especially for your at-risk elders:Those who have diabetesThose who are immobileThose who have skin problemsThose who have an existing ulcer, or a healed ulcerThose who have Alzheimer’s
Tip: Never drag them across sheets! Use proper
lifting techniques!
Get help if necessary!
Tip: Use recommended supports
Tip: Watch Alzheimer’s elders carefully
They need extra care to prevent pressure ulcers.
Tip: Watch your diabetic elders very carefully
The high blood sugar levels of diabetics can make curing pressure ulcers difficult, or impossible: they are a leading cause of amputation and death in these elders!
Tip: Watch their nutrition
Lack of proper nutrition… including drinking enough water… is a major cause of pressure ulcers in elders.
Tip: Prevent dry skin
Dry skin can cause pressure ulcers.Use recommended lotions.
Alert, watchful caregiving is the key!
The End