How do I Give Proper Skin Care to a Nursing Home Patient?

Elderly residents may be at risk of developing pressure sores.

Nursing home residents may have a compromised skin condition because of factors like age or side effects of medication. However, the most common concern for those caring for the elderly resident is the prevention of pressure sores. When they do develop, they are difficult to heal, and may become a serious risk to the resident's health and well-being. They are not always preventable, but most care staff consider the prevention of pressure sores to a be a key part of their role in giving good holistic care.

Things You'll Need

• Care plan
• Barrier cream

Instructions

1. 

   Assess the overall health and well-being of the resident.

   Carry out a full assessment on each new resident. Assess the state of the skin, noting any existing indicators of vulnerability to pressure sores, such as skin breaks or red areas. Consider all aspects of the resident's health and well-being, including factors which may contribute to the development of pressure sores, such as a poor nutritional state.

2. Develop a skin care protocol for the nursing home. Make sure that all care staff are trained to care for residents' skin correctly. Ensure that all residents have a comprehensive care plan, which is reviewed at regular intervals.

3. Ensure that all residents are offered toilet visits frequently. Change and wash incontinent residents immediately. Apply a barrier cream, if this has been recommended. Ensure that washing and application of cream is carried out gently.

4. Use special mattresses and pressure-relieving appliances correctly. Train all staff to immediately report and record any red areas, or skin breaks. Monitor the hydration and nutritional state of each resident. Give food supplements if these have been recommended

5. Ensure that immobile residents are carefully turned every two hours. Help mobile residents to walk and change position at frequent intervals. Involve the dietitian and physiotherapist in the implementation of skin care.

Tips & Warnings

• Use charts to reinforce the importance of turning to care staff.

References

• Pubmed: The Benefits of Implementing a New Skin Care Protocol in Nursing Homes
• Nursing Assistant Education: Preventing Pressure Ulcers