How to Prevent Bedsores 
Bedsores are alarmingly common in
American nursing homes. According to a National Nursing Home Survey by the
CDC, about 11% of nursing home residents had a pressure ulcer or bedsore. Bedsores occur when a patient is immobile for an extended period. They are more common in people with a physical disability, the elderly, and those who use a wheelchair or are confined to bed most of the day. Bedsores can be classified into four categories, from least to most severe. The most common type of bedsore is a level two pressure ulcer. These
injuries occur on bony parts of the body that experience the most pressure from sitting or lying down. These include your heels, shoulder blades, ankles, hips, and tailbone.
The four stages of pressure ulcers
1: Persistent skin redness 2: Appearance of a blister or abrasion on the skin, indicating deeper tissue damage 3: A deep crater in the skin resulting from a loss of tissue 4: A total loss of skin thickness, revealing muscle or bone
How to prevent bedsores
Many people must stay in bed or in a wheelchair for extended periods due to illness, disability, or other reasons. But there are ways to reposition your body to prevent bedsores.
- If you are in a wheelchair, try distributing your weight differently every 15 minutes and completely repositioning your body every hour. Get help with repositioning if you need it.
- Using your arms to lift yourself out of your wheelchair occasionally will reduce your risk of developing bedsores on your tailbone.
- Select special cushions and mattresses that better distribute your weight and relieve pressure.
If you or a loved one suffered from bedsores due to improper nursing home treatment, you might be entitled to compensation for this painful condition. The
New York nursing home abuse lawyers at
Hach & Rose, LLP represent nursing home residents and families across the state, so call our office at
212-779-0057 to schedule your no-obligation consultation today.