Bed sores are a painful skin disorder often experienced by older adults with mobility concerns, also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers. Most at risk are those who are in one position for a long time because they are exposed to constant pressure on one part of the body. Sores can develop very quickly on any part of the body.

What shows on the surface of the skin is only the tip of an iceberg and by the time it manifests itself on the outer layers of the skin, most probable is that the damage has already gone much deeper.

Pressure ulcers are potentially a serious medical condition and if not treated properly and timely can cause painful complications. More serious bed sores should get professional medical help while at an early stage they can be treated at home, but either way, it is crucial to get a proper diagnosis before any treatment.

Caregiver Tips on Caring for Bed Sores

1. The most important thing to do first is to relieve the pressure points. Rotate the position of the person in need at least every 2 hours.
2. Foam pads, lambswool, pillows or seat doughnuts are very useful to help spread pressure evenly.
3. Use foam, air and gel mattress designed specifically to protect vulnerable skin.
4. Use mild soaps and warm water to clean wounds properly in order to prevent infection. Use wound care products designed specifically to create moisture barrier for protecting oozing wounds to dress wounds. Change wound dressing as often as necessary.
5. Dry skin is more prone to ulceration, especially in feet and legs, so it’s important to moisturize the skin consistently and gently.
6. Include a barrier cream to the care routine of the person in need in order to protect the skin against excess moisture and irritation.
7. As with everything, good nutrition is the key to healing speed as it boosts the immune system. Adequate protein intake will add to faster wound recovery.
8. Colloidal silver, raw honey, pure Aloe Vera gel, and other self-made remedies are popular among caregivers but you should not rely solely on them.
9. If pain persists, seek professional medical help. Pressure ulcers can eventually become life-threatening if not treated properly because they can cause permanent muscle and nerves damage.

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Source: CareTips

Older adults who live with dementia at home tend to be sicker and socially more challenging than their counterparts, as discovered in the latest research.

This implies that home care providers who have established themselves as dementia specialists will probably have a difficult task on their hands.

More than 5.7 million older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementia are living in the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately one in three seniors passes away with some kind of dementia.

Despite the increasing number of older adults who want to age at home, the health and social features of the in-home dementia population are fairly unknown.

Team of researchers from the University of California San Francisco who conducted the study analyzed medical conditions of 728 adults over 65 years of age in three environments: their homes, residential care and nursing homes.

Researchers have generally discovered that older adults at home with moderately severe dementia had worse overall health, greater co-morbidity rates and dealing with more pain.

But according to the authors of this study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society on Aug. 7, 2019, results should not be taken as a call to move people with moderately severe dementia away from their homes rapidly.

“Rates of nursing home use are declining because they are expensive and people generally prefer the familiarity of home,” said first author Krista Harrison, PhD, of the UCSF Division of Geriatrics. “People with dementia benefit from consistent and predictable environments and caregivers. Nursing homes may offer more people to help with medical and social needs, but that might mean sharing a room with someone with different daily habits or distressing behavior symptoms.”

“Some people with dementia who live at home receive home-based primary, geriatric or palliative care, but many more likely do not. There is an urgent need for these services – as well as home health aides and other social supports — to become widely available to those families providing home care for loved ones with dementia.”

A growing number of home care providers in recent years have established specific service lines for the care of elderly dementia patients. Research team hopes that the study they conducted will assist these and other providers to move in the correct direction in order to guarantee quality care at home.

The post The Challenges of In-home Dementia Care for Providers Highlighted in the Latest Research appeared first on Best Homecare Tips.

Source: CareTips