Bed Sore Wound Care – Everyday tips, The Truth as a Caregiver

April 6, 2013September 20, 2019

Pressure Sore Caring TIps leb1996 2 Comments

Bed Sore Wound Care. CARING…for a person with pressure sores: TRUTH and TIPS

What it takes to care for a loved one that has bed sore wounds, some tips on what you need to know a s caregiver… Some of the misconceptions that have been said to me as a Caregiver for my elderly bedridden pressure sore patient!

Caring for a bed-ridden person is hard enough on it’s on. Additional medical conditions (for example: heart problems, diabetes, dementia, etc…) will add another level to the challenge. Not to mention trying to juggle all of that while looking to prevent new pressure ulcers (bed sores) from developing, at the same time caring for existing pressure ulcer wounds.

Being a care giver: I’ve faced many comments from people that weren’t too supportive.

• “So you baby sit your grandmother.. “wow so you basically just sit at home?.
• …”Being a caregiver is just an excuse to stay at home”.
• …”Being a caregiver is not a real job, unless you are at work from 8-5pm”
• It cant be that hard watching over a family member at home!

The truth about caring for a bedridden loved one! A Caregivers’ real job, some quick, helpful, and everyday tips that I have found useful.

1. You basically start work from the moment your loved one or patient is ready to start there day! No choice there.
2. You must prepare Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner ahead of time in order for your schedule to flow easily throughout the day
3. Buy a whiteboard. Write down important stuff…. it is a life saver!
4. It can be emotionally draining at times as a caregiver, but my advice to you is “As long as you have a strong support system around you anything is possible”.
5. You need to have a medication list at all times a form that is updated with a section on top that has the list of the patients’ allergies. When your in the emergency room there is usually no time to remember to bring all your medications along.
6. Carry a small duffel bag with all the things you might need especially if you have a wound vac for your family member. On my way to the ER, or doctor’s visit to check up on bed sore wounds, I put the following in my duffel bag: One foam dressings, gauze, wound cleanser, chucks and creams. Believe it or not the EMERGENCY ROOMS do not have wound dressings to give you nor are you allowed to use your own vac at the hospital when checked in. You must use theirs or wait until the wound nurse has time to fit you into her schedule. Be Prepared, bring your own stuff ahead of time.

1. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! Do not depend on your doctors to be on top of it. Bed sore wound care is the caregiver’s job mostly. You need to be proactive with what you feel is RIGHT for you and not only for your doctor. ( The following book has helped me understand pressure sores in details: Prevention of Pressure Sores)
2. I have experienced age discrimination at the hospital and have heard a lot of opinions of what is right and wrong. As a caregiver you need to listen to the health care professionals, and if something doesn’t seem right, ask for a second opinion. What ever you do, DON’T give up!

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