2 Tips For Keeping Your Bedbound Loved One From Developing Bedsores

If your loved one recently became homebound and stuck in bed, you may have dedicated yourself to providing them with the care they need, such as bathing, feeding, and general personal care. Especially since they are bedbound, this care also includes making sure that they do not develop bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers. To help keep their skin from breaking down, there are a couple of things that you can do while taking care of your loved one.

1.  Make Sure Their Skin Stays Clean

One thing that you can do to help keep your loved one from developing bedsores is to make sure that their skin stays clean. While you probably already bathe your loved one regularly, you can take it a few steps further to help prevent the breakdown of their skin.

Especially in vulnerable areas such as the buttocks and feet, make sure that there is no fecal matter or debris sticking to their skin. Since they are in bed constantly, their skin will start to thin, making even small pieces more likely to break the skin.

Also, when you bathe them, use a mild soap that is free from perfumes and oils. These ingredients will leave a residue that can encourage breakdown. Ask a caregiver from a home health care service for recommendations for types of soap that is ideal for your loved one's skin.

2.  Avoid Allowing Your Loved One to Stay in One Position

Another major thing that you can do to help keep pressure ulcers from forming is to avoid allowing your loved one to stay in one position for more than a couple of hours. While laying in one position for too long, the pressure points of the body will be under pressure from the bed, cutting off circulation to these areas and contributing to the bedsores.

When repositioning your loved one, use pillows to prop them up on their side, as well as to position their limbs so that these pressure points are not in contact with the bed. If you need to work during the day, you may want to consider getting help from a home care agency to ensure that the repositioning takes place when you are not home to do so.

While ensuring that your loved one's skin stays clean and switching their positions will help to prevent bedsores, it can be a stressful undertaking, especially if you are not able to be at home all day. If you decide that you will need help with pressure ulcer prevention, as well as performing other activities of daily living for your loved one, contact an agency that provides homebound patient personal care to see what type of help they can provide.