The best strategy for preventing bedsores is commonly accepted as turning. Repositioning a hospital patient or a bedridden nursing care resident in their bedsore mattresses relieves the pressure on one body area is referred to as turning. Turning can help restore normal blood flow to a spot, keep skin tissues healthy and alive, and prevent bedsores. Turning bedridden are in danger of getting bedsores is the responsibility of the nursing staff. It could be considered elder abuse or medical malpractice if they don’t do so.
People who have been in the hospital, in a nursing home, or confined to lying in one position for long periods are more likely to develop sores on their bodies, mostly if they don’t know what hospital bed mattress will use. These sores are dangerous, leading to infection, limb loss, and even death. You might think that a serious condition would be tough to treat, but this is not the case. One easy remedy can help prevent these sores from occurring: patient repositioning.
The importance of patient repositioning
Because a disruption in blood circulation can cause bedsores, preserving circulation can help prevent one. Turning assists in maintaining appropriate blood circulation to all parts of the body, particularly bony protrusions that are more prone to developing bedsores. Turning can release pressure and restore blood flow in the skin of the heels and ankles, buttocks, back, hips, shoulder blades, elbows, back of the calves, and back of the head. (But first, check the patient’s blood pressure using blood pressure monitors, so they don’t be too surprised when turned and the blood circulates correctly.)
Bedridden patients who cannot maintain blood circulation on their own through movement or exercise should be turned regularly by a nursing home and hospital staff. Turning and other physical rehabilitation techniques are necessary for those who are aged, immobile, injured, unconscious, crippled, or otherwise confined to a bed or their transport chairs. In people at risk for bedsores, turning may be the only way to prevent them.
How often should a bedridden patient turn?
The standard practice is to rotate the patient every two hours; however, there’s more to finding the best answer for their unique needs. Some people can lie down for long periods without developing pressure ulcers because they’re on a comfortable pressure sore mattress, while others need to change positions more frequently. The frequency of turns can be customized by a physician based on parameters such as:
- Their activity and mobility levels
- The patient’s overall health condition
- Tolerance of tissues
Caretakers should maintain a close eye on the bedridden patient and offer them and their families guidance on avoiding bedsores. Caregivers can encourage the bedridden patient to adjust themselves to sitting postures or engage in modest exercise by using physical therapy supplies if the patient can move around independently in the bed.
The advantage of changing positions for bedridden patients every 2 hours
The patient repositioning has numerous advantages for bedridden patients who must remain in a chair for lengthy periods. Those who cannot move willingly by themselves or who require assistance with repositioning benefit immensely from being repositioned every two hours. Instead of using bed rails and mobility aids, seek help from the experts. Experts can detect many critical medical diseases, and a patient’s life can be saved by turning them every 2 hours, as stage 3-4 sores on the body can lead to blood poisoning and even death.
- Reduce the body’s temperature.
Being in the same position or spot for a long time has the consequence of overheating the body. When a person lies in the same posture for a long time, the bed and body overheat. Because one region of the body is constantly exposed to weight and heat, this overheating develops ulcers. Heat, in turn, can cause dampness, which can contribute to bedsores.
Overheating can be prevented by shifting the body every 2 hours, and overheating can be controlled by avoiding sores from the bed. Use a thermometer on both armpits of the patient and check the temperature to know which side was abused for a long time and turn them in the other direction.
- Avoid illnesses
Being moved regularly also means avoiding many dangerous ailments that might result from staying in one position for an extended period. Infection on the skin, bones, and even deep in the flesh can result from being bedridden for a long time.
These conditions, if left untreated, can result in blood poisoning, long-term hospitalization, excruciating pain, and, in the worst-case scenario, death. So, having a hard time turning oneself can be stressful. Alarm your family and caregivers by pressing a bed alarm.
- Keeping sores at bay
The possibility of developing sores on the skin is one of the side effects of being bedridden for a long time. These sores can get infected, causing the affected area’s flesh, skin, and bone to deteriorate swiftly. In hospitals and elderly homes, preventing these sores is critical. They use ointments, barrier creams, and sometimes antibiotics and septic to keep the skin moist and healthy.
Without rotating the body every two hours, the likelihood of developing a sore on the body grows, as does the risk of significant medical disorders. Repositioning a bedridden patient every 1-2 hours helps to prevent bedsores.
- It will improve circulation and recovery.
Turning patients every two hours improves blood circulation, which helps to prevent significant health problems, including clotting and weakened skin. Without enough movement, a person’s blood pressure can rise, joints stiffen, the risk of clotting increases, and the skin can deteriorate. All of this causes new health issues and hinders the recovery of those who already have them.
While shifting the body every two hours is not a cure-all for a bedridden resident’s health concerns, it can help alleviate many of the issues with being bedridden for too long, such as pressure wounds. It could be a great help to have aids for daily living for our bedridden patients so they do not exert extra movements that can cause shearing of the skin. Please be advised that caregivers must lend a hand if they’re struggling.
Final Thoughts
Repositioning and mobilizing bedridden patients is just one aspect of pressure-injury prevention, and each patient will have unique needs. Other elements that influence the treatment objective and patient result include the patient’s diet and nutrition, medical condition, skin condition, and tissue tolerance. Considering the big picture will aid in producing superior results.
If you suspect a medical facility is neglecting a friend or family member, don’t hesitate to contact AvaCare Medical staff immediately for assistance. We value our dear customers and offer great help to anyone. For more information, please email us here at info@avacaremedical.com or contact us here at 1-877-813-7799.