Preventing Pressure Ulcers
December 30th, 2011 tmccoy
Routine skin checks must be performed on all nursing home residents. Skin checks must be performed more often on residents who are non-ambulatory and those that cannot reposition themselves while in bed.
Residents who are at risk should be closely watched by staff, especially those that: cannot move, do not move often or are restrained; cannot eat or drink on their own; are incontinent (not able to control their bladder or bowel); have active acute medical or psychiatric conditions; are dying or in the last stages of dementia.
Helping to prevent pressure ulcers means making sure residents get enough food and fluids, go to the toilet as needed, have their skin gently cleansed, move as much as possible, are turned at least every two hours in bed and every hour while up in a chair, are checked carefully and often for complications of their medications, and are turned gently to prevent damage to frail older skin.
