Pressure Sore Wound Care: Caring for a Person With Bed Sores - Everyday Tips From a Caretaker

Pressure Sore Care... Practical, non-medical advice on dealing with a loved one that is suffering from pressure sore wounds (bed sores). Some quick Facts and Tips coming from an at-home caretaker.

Taking care of an incapacitated person that is suffering from bed sores is hard on its own. Imagine if that person has additional medical conditions like a weak heart, diabetes, high blood pressure, to name a few... All of that just adds another level to the challenge of trying to prevent new pressures sores from surfacing while simultaneously looking after existent pressure ulcer problems.

As a caretaker, I've heard various opinions from people that were not overly supportive towards me and what I'm doing. Here is a small sample of what I heard:

• "You basically baby sit your grandma all day.. " You get to rest at home all day?"


• ..."Being a full-time caretaker does not replace having a full-time job that pays well. Real jobs are from 8 to 5, Monday till Friday".

The real story is that if I had a choice, I would choose for my grandmother be healthy, and not need me to stay home all day to care after her. The bottom line is that being stay at home care giver is a REAL job that demands hard work, prior planning, research, and follow-up. To me, that's what you call a REAL job! Here is a short list of tips and pointers to make it easier for you to care for a person with these conditions:

1. This is not an 8 to 5 job, your day starts and ends every two hours. That's the interval that you should be moving the your loved one around that way pressure is not sustained on the same location for periods over 2 hours.


2. Make sure that you eat healthy foods that are rich in protein, vitamins, and nutrients that will keep you healthy and strong. Good nutrition (and exercise if possible) is essential in dealing with stress and irregular working hours.


3. Purchase a dry-erase board and use it to write down notes that come to mind throughout you day. This you won't forget things that come to mind!


4. It may become psychologically exhausting to be in this position, to see your loved one suffering. Maintain a positive attitude at ALL time. Be positive and stay the course.


5. It's essential to include an up-to-date list of all of the medication that the patient is currently consuming. Also include notes about any possible allergies that the patient has.


6. Put together a small carrying case that contains essentials to care for the pressure sores. If you're using a wound vacuum, wound dressing, cleaning solution, or anything else that you might think is useful for your particular situation. This carrying case will play an essential roll if the patient gets transported from place to place and might need certain supplies that are not readily available in certain places. The idea is to be proactive and ready for any situation.


7. The more you know, the better you are! Conduct your own research about everything that is related to pressures sores. The more education you get about the subject, the better prepared you will be to ask your health care professional detailed questions that will be essential in saving your loved ones' life.

You might face individuals at the health institutions that may not be too friendly to elderly people. But don't worry. Never give up no matter what. Always ask your health care professional the right questions. They are the only qualified individuals to give you sound advice... and if in doubt, ask for a second opinion.