Why You Should Ask for a Skin Assessment for Your Loved One in a Nursing Home
Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, are skin conditions commonly found in nursing home residents due to their less active lifestyle. Special care is required by nursing home staff to prevent patients from getting this skin problem.
Unfortunately, due to low staff or poor care, nursing facilities can neglect their vulnerable patients, leading to the onset of bedsores. As the family of your loved one, keeping updated on the conditions of a nursing home and insisting on regular skin assessments can prevent them from contracting bedsores, which have serious and even fatal consequences if left unattended.
What is a Skin Assessment?
A proper evaluation of the skin involves an entire scan of the patient’s body to determine if any pressure ulcers are forming. These assessments check for moisture, skin integrity edema, skin color, and other signs that might point to the contraction of any skin conditions, including pressure ulcers. Ideally, every encounter nursing staff have with their residents should include checking parts of the skin.
Why Are Regularly Scheduled Skin Assessments Necessary?
Four stages are used to measure the severity of bedsores, and stage four would be the point where they could be fatal. Skin assessments are vital as they provide prevention of bedsores or early detection.
Nursing homes that give proper care should prevent any bedsores from ever occurring. However, regular assessments ensure early discovery, meaning that if caregivers find any sores, they will be treated quickly and successfully before becoming fatal.
You may have known a skin assessment was performed when your loved one was first admitted. However, an evaluation should be conducted regularly, especially if residents are more prone to contracting them.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be afraid to ask nursing home staff about the care they give. After all, that is your loved one, and they deserve to be treated right. If you aren’t sure about a nursing home’s policy on skin assessments, ask them about the last time they performed one on your loved one. The prevention of pressure ulcers can keep your loved one from experiencing unnecessary pain and discomfort and can even save their life.
If your loved one has developed bedsores and you suspect neglect or abuse from the nursing home, speak with an experienced attorney who understands cases of nursing home abuse. If you have any concerns, it is better to be safe than sorry.
