Nursing Home And Hospital Surveyors Look At The Risk Factors for Developing a Pressure Sore - Part III
Some residents have many risk factors for developing pressure ulcers. The nursing home has the responsibility to identify and evaluate these risk factors. They must then develop interventions to address the risk factors so a pressure ulcer does not develop. When you become involved with your loved ones care in a nursing home, you too should be aware of these risk factors, and ensure the staff are aware of any that your loved one has. Some of the risk factors include:
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Impaired/decreased mobility and decreased functional ability;
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Medical conditions, such as end stage renal disease, thyroid disease or diabetes mellitus;
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Drugs such as steroids that may affect wound healing;
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Impaired blood flow
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Resident refusal of some aspects of care and treatment;
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Cognitive impairment;
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Exposure of skin to urinary and fecal incontinence;
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Poor nutrition, malnutrition, and hydration deficits; and
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A history of a healed pressure ulcer and its stage [if known] is important, since areas of healed Stage III or IV pressure ulcers are more likely to have recurrent breakdown.
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Diabetic Neuropathy
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An acute illness such as an upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, or congestive heart failure
Not all the risk factors can be modified or changed and some of those that can be changed, such as poor-nutrition, take time to be corrected even when there is immediate identification of the risk and appropriate interventions established. On the other hand, some risk factors can be removed promptly, such as pressure on a site.
A Nursing Home Surveyor will look to see if the nursing home staffs who are responsible for the resident’s care review each risk factor and its potential cause(s). They should identify those risk factors that increase the potential for pressure ulcers. The nursing home staff needs to decide what factor(s) can be modified, stabilized, or removed. Then the staff should determine what protocols need to be implemented for each individual resident.
Be safe and be informed!
JL
Filed Under Nursing Homes, Pressure Ulcers |
Tagged With Assessment, Care Plan, Pressure Ulcers, Risk Factor
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