My Dad has been in his nursing home for 3 years. He is in a wheelchair and cannot move much. He has been participating in activities when I visit him and seems relatively happy. He has had a lot of the same staff for years. I got a call yesterday morning that he fell from the built in (on tracks) hoyer lift on the way to the shower. They sent him to the hospital. He fractured his pelvis and hit his head, but won’t need surgery. This morning the nurse at the hospital asked if I was aware of a pressure sore he had. I was not. I saw a picture of it, it looked pretty bad to me. She said it looked like it had been there a while and not from his fall. It’s about the size of a palm with no fingers and it’s a wound, not just a red spot. He can’t really adjust himself in his wheelchair or on a bed, so I just want to ask if anyone has experience with this? This sore plus the fall has got me so worried about his care where I was not before. I would appreciate your input/experience.Thank you!
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maria
My mom's NH let me know when they first noticed a small red mark on her backside during diaper changes and they kept her mostly in bed until it healed. I also invested in the ROHO seat cushion that was recommended by an OT since she did spend all her waking hours in her wheelchair. No more sores, not even stage 1.
It likely is neglect especially combined with the fall. It is wrong you were not informed about the sore. They are very hard to heal in the elderly.
He should have a special mattress and he should have his positions adjusted. He may very well need constant pain medication.
I would consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in elder care abuse. They will know if you have a case and will not charge any fees upfront. If you proceed with a case you should find a different and better SN facility for your father.
The pressure sore may or may not be: where is it, how deep is it, is this actually a pressure sore or is it an abrasion or a moisture lesion or...
How is he? Hope he's comfortable now. Is he able to tell you anything about what happened?
I would call on an ombudsman. A pressure sore is reportable for almost any nursing home. Too many of them and state licensure is threatened. They CAN happen quickly and especially so with someone wheelchair bound.
I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It is reportable. You Dad is going, I think, to require good SNF placement now for at least a while.
When I toured places for mom to enter rehab. The head nurse told me that those mattresses worked well in preventing sores from occurring.
I know to err is human but there are protocols, procedures, regulations & charters designed specifically for the age care sector. Towards best care is the goal. To remove harm, minimise risk, ensure safety being the basic foundations of this.
Bedsores can & do happen despite all attempts to prevent - despite regular skin checks & the best air mattress & specialty cushions. BUT. They get reported, monitored & treated.
Things have gone wrong here.
Skin checks should be done.
Pressure areas monitored.
Any wound reported, to family, RN, Doctor. Wounds to be dressed & kept clean.
Hoyer lifts must be checked & deemed safe to use. Any faulty equipment reported & taken out of circulation. Staff must be trained to use, or working as a team under direct direction of a trained staff member.
I would want a meeting with the Facilty Manager. A chance to ask what happened & why. Instead of a blame session, I would attempt to stay neutral to find out the facts. An honest Management team will have some sort of negative event disclosure model of care. Tell you honestly what happened. Then what they are doing to prevent this happening again. To your Dad & others. Eg More staff training, equipment checks, more thorough skin checks.
If Management attempt to coverup or hide from full disclosure, get heavier. Legal weight heavy if you need.