Are Pressure Sores Common In Older Adults Under Professional Care?

One question that bothers some families ask their Orange County nursing home abuse attorney regarding an an elderly parent in Seal Beach for example, is the question, are pressure sores common in older adults under professional care? There are specific signs when the skin of an older person has broken down, when not kept in good condition the skin can break down and turn into an open sore.

There are very few health conditions that cause the skin to break down and cause pressure sores even with the proper care. Pressure sores often appear on mature adults when they are confined to bed or to a wheel chair and do not have assistance in moving in order to keep circulation in the parts of the body where pressure from the bones cut it off to the skin.

Common places that pressure sores can appear are where the circulation is cut off fin the skin, such as the hip area, the buttocks, the sides of the knees and even the heels or shoulders. Circulation is cut off by the weight of the bones when the skin is against a hard surface like a bed or a wheelchair.

The skin on the aged adult is delicate and can be damaged quickly from this loss of circulation. Unless there are actions taken when a person is confined to a bed or wheelchair such as using pillows or lambswool on the heels and between the knees pressure sores can form on the elderly person. One of the ways to keep pressure sores from forming is good skin care, in the form of keeping the skin clean, moisturized and blood circulation. Circulation means moving the patient at intervals continuously and also doing range of motion exercises. By using a pillow or lambswool between the knees, will keep the bones in the knees from pressing against the skin of the opposite knee and stopping the circulation.

There are illnesses such as a stroke that can confine an elderly person to bed or a wheelchair due to paralysis. The signs of the skin breaking down can be seen, the skin will first begin with red spots and if poor circulation continues the skin will become a deep red, black or purple. The skin and tissue underneath will die from the lack of circulation.

The loss of circulation at any age can cause problems, but in the aged person it is even more desperate. The skin is more delicate than a younger person and will break down much faster than a younger person's skin. When the home health agency employee or the nursing home is in Seal Beach and pressure sore signs are present the family should be concerned. This might be when it is time to question changing health care providers for the aged person and voice these concerns to an Orange County elderly abuse attorney. This is a person that is able to hold the personal care agency that was responsible for this person's care.

If you were injured or a loved dependant adult was injured, contact an experienced elder abuse lawyer at 888-400-9721.