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Senior Nursing Homes

Senior nursing homes and adult care centers have to ensure that their staff is prepared to treat wounds in their residents to ward off further complications. Many types of wounds are found among senior home and nursing home residents, and bedsores are the most common among them. Bed sores can be caused by seniors being in the same position for an extended time because of their inability to move on their own. Also, neglect from the side of nursing home caregivers can lead to bedsores.

Some Common Wound Types In Senior Patients

As per the experts in senior wound care, some of the most common types of wounds that seniors experience in nursing homes are:

 Bedsores And Pressure Ulcers: These are wounds caused by skin breakdowns due to pressure for prolonged periods. Bedsores can disrupt and may even prevent blood flow to the region thereby blocking the oxygen supply, resulting in the death of cells. Usually, these types of ulcers are found in people with type 2 diabetes. Pressure ulcers can be easily prevented by changing the position of the patient regularly.

Post-Operation Wounds: Many seniors get surgery for one reason or the other. Postoperative wound care after a surgical procedure should start immediately after the surgery and should continue even after the discharge of the patient. If proper post-operative wound care is not provided, infections and blood clots might occur.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers: These ulcers are caused by changes in the foot bones of seniors suffering from diabetes. In the United States, about 5% of people suffering from diabetes develop these ulcers and about 1% of them have to get a toe amputated to avoid the further spread of the ulcer.

Amputation Wounds: Complications can occur after an amputation if proper wound care is not provided. For an amputation wound to heal properly, proper wound care should be provided. Wound care can also prevent the wound from becoming gangrenous.

Caring For Wounds In Seniors

Our body has its own natural mechanism to heal wounds. Most times, the use of proper medication, proper wound care and good hygiene can help wounds heal. However, seniors can have a hard time healing wounds because of pre-existing health conditions. Also, seniors can experience slower cell regeneration and fragile skin that can slow down the wound healing process.

Antiseptics are commonly used for senior wound care in nursing facilities. This is because topical antiseptics can help stop the growth of bacteria in the wound and ensure moisture in the area. Both these processes can help in the healing process of the wound.