Bedridden hospital patients and nursing home residents may develop Decubitus Ulcers – commonly known as bedsores – as a direct result of poor nursing care. Bedridden elders should be moved or repositioned every 2 hours to minimize rubbing, pressure, and friction. Lubricants and protective padding may also be helpful. Incontinent patients are particularly susceptible to bedsores because exposure to moisture from urine increases the risk of skin damage. Incredibly, more people in nursing homes die from complications resulting from bedsores than from any other illness.

The following links provide excellent information pertaining to bedsores, their symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment, and prevention.

From LDHP Medical Review Services Corporation: http://www.ldhpmed.com/Decubitus.aspx

From Wikipedia, the free encylopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedsore

An article discussing a Medicare project that proved pressure ulcers can be stopped in nursing homes: http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Medicare/2007/7-10-24-MedicareProject.htm

An article written by Harold Rubin, MS, ABD, CRC: http://www.therubins.com/ideas/ulcersore.htm

Bedsores (pressure sores) Reference the MayoClinic at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedsores/DS00570

Stages of development of bedsores from Bedsores.org: http://www.bedsores.org/Bed_Sore_Articles.htm

Treating and preventing bedsores from Disabled-World.com: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/bedsores.shtml

CAUTION!

The following link provides extremely graphic photos and videos of the stages of development of bedsores. Many people find these photos extremely disturbing. Just imagine the pain that a patient with this condition must endure. That’s why My Elder Advocate works so hard to ensure the best and proper care from day one of an elder’s stay in a hospital or nursing home.

Photos showing the progressive nature of bedsores. http://www.bedsorefaq.com/bed-sores-pictures/