Pressure Sore

[Thisoldbird]

My 89 yr disabled husband has developed a pressure sore on his bottom with another about to happen on the opposite cheek. The little flesh he has is as rough as sandpaper.

His carers cream him every morning and I do it at bedtime.

A district nurse checked it out 2 weeks ago and seemed we were doing the right thing.
I'm now concerned, it's worse than it was

Unfortunately his mobility is poor and he can't reposition himself in bed..he can only lay on his back.

He has a pressure cushion supplied by Social Services his mattress is a nice soft memory topper to it..

I'm wondering if anyone has experience of a pad to lay on. I've seen pure wool fleece pads and gel pads.

Any advice or help would be most welcome. Thank you.

[calmck]

Have you tried bio oil gel on the sore areas. Manuka honey is also good. Maybe he needs the area creamed more than twice a day. Can he be positioned on his back but slightly turned so that his bottom area is off the bed a couple of times a day

[anneasquith]

Once he has them, a devil to get rid of them, but it can be done. The sores will require more intensive treatment. Twice a day may be inadequate.
An occupational therapist may have some idea re equipment for for taking the pressure off them. .
Are they painful. ?When did his gp last see him ?

[bednobs]

You can get proper pressure relieving matresses plug I ones via the dn. Cream is all very well but what he actually needs is relief of pressure by being repositioned

[ubasses]

The link below gives information on the different type of mattresses and cushions that may help. I know from when my Mum was restricted to bed is her care home they turned her every 2 hours advising me that this was the best way to prevent them and in all the years she was deteriorating she never suffered one.
Next time the District Nurse calls ask her about the options available to you, can you be supplied with a hospital bed, can you have more carer visits daily. Social Services can supply a variety of mobility options,
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pressure-sores/treatment/

[rowanwitch]

Minimum should be a pressure relieving air cell type mattress,which should be provided for you and two hourly pressure area care (and that is day and night) unless he is also put on a bed with lateral movement too. It's unlikely one of this type would be provided as they were always in short supply.

[pixie374]

The 2-hourly turns, were traditional, but are actually considered "abusive" now, due to disrupting sleep etc. You "shouldn't" need to turn somebody on a pressure mattress, however they aren't perfect.
Personally, I would suggest the only way is to turn him at least every few hours, or sit, anything to take the pressure off the same place. And I agree, manuka honey is exceptionally good, although expensive.

[Thisoldbird]

Thankyou all so much for your replies.

Its impossible for me to turn him..I'm struggling myself with chronic arthritis, I've injured my back trying to move him.. I do get him up each morning before the carers arrive and put him to bed. He was offered a mattress but he had a new mattress 10 months ago that's extremely comfortable. With nowhere in our small apartment to store it we had hoped it would be sufficient.

I'll speak to the nurse again. This getting old lark isn't as good as it once was.

Thanks again.

[bednobs]

If you are able to get him up and put him to bed does that mean he's in s chair during the day? If so you can get fancy plug in pressure relief cushions via the dn too. I presumed he was in bed.

[anneasquith]

TOB. Would it not be better if the carers get him up ?

[Thisoldbird]

Yes he is in a chair all day with high risk pressure cushion.

Carers would get him up but no telling what time they would turn up. After laying still all night he's desperate to get up. Same with putting him to bed. Carers do bed calls from 7 pm. If he goes that early he's so uncomfortable very very early.

This last year has got very hard, watching him waste away and get so frail. It's taken its toll on me til I am exhausted.
Someone further up asked when his GP last saw him!! About 2 years ago. I'm totally disgusted with him. He will prescribe anything I have asked for or suggested but since Covid, he and most GPs in this area have stayed safely behind closed doors.

[bednobs]

i dont really understand what a visit from the GP would have acheived?
carers, social services and DNs are much better at organising community stuff than Gps