Bed Sore FAQ» Dehydration

Why is a patient’s hydration level critical to healing bed sores?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:38:02 +0000

Though widely accepted in the medical community as an essential component of good health, proper hydration is critical for patients who need to heal existing bed sores. Adequate hydration is critical to for multiple functions in the body that are particularly important in patients with existing bed sore such circulation, liver function, and optimum functioning of the immune system.

When the body is adequately hydrated, the body can dissolve and assimilate nutrients, vitamins, minerals and glucose necessary to heal wounds. Further, proper hydration helps the body get oxygen and other vital nutrients to organs needed during times of stress on the body– such as an open wound or bed sore.

A patients hydration needs should be calculated on an individual basis. A general rule of thumb for most patients daily fluid needs is 1 ml of liquid per kcalorie consumed or 1/2 to 2/3 oz. per pound of body weight. Additional fluids may be required in patients with bed sores who also have the following conditions:

Significant weight loss
Decreased urine output
Changes in skin turgor
Elevated serum sodium / calculated serum osmolality
Heavy sweats
Diarrhea

The most accurate method in evaluating a patients hydration level is to conduct an urinalysis. The most simple method is to look at the urine color, which uses a color scale to compare to the urine– the darker the urine, the more dehydrated you are. Other, more scientific urine tests, such as urine specific gravity, urine osmolarity, and urine color are only minimally better at determining hydration level.

While there’s certainly no magic bullet when it comes to healing bed sores (also referred to as pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers), caregivers must recognize the heightened need for proper hydration in order to maximize the chances of an individuals recovery from bed sores.

Additional resource:

The Link Between Tissue Oxygen and Hydration in Nursing Home Residents With Pressure Ulcers: Preliminary Data. Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing, Stotts, N. A. Hopf H., 30(4) 184-190, July 2003.

Are the development of bed sores during a nursing home admission an indication of nursing home neglect?

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:39:07 +0000

Caring for nursing home patients is hard work! Caregivers must be dedicated to invest the necessary time and effort to assure the medical, personal and psychological needs of their patients are met. When caregivers fail to provide necessary care, patients begins to suffer. Compared with an affirmative act (such as nursing home abuse), nursing home neglect truly implies that some one is not doing their job.

Nursing home neglect is a general term that encompasses many different situations that commonly result in patient injury or even death.

The duration of the neglect can occur over any period of time– days, weeks, months — even years. Many situations involving nursing home neglect are reflective of a systematic problem at the facility, where shift-after-shift of nursing home employees fails to provide necessary care to patients in need.

Medical complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, sepsis and bed sores are common consequences of nursing home neglect. In some situations, the aforementioned conditions of malnutrition and dehydration may contribute to the development of bed sores.

Incontinence – Failure to keep patient clean, change soiled linens after an episode of incontinence, and re-position patients on a regular internals may contribute to the development of bed sores (similarly referred to as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers).

Dehydration – An inability to perceive thirst or anxiety over going to the toilet are some of the common factors that contribute to dehydration of nursing home patients. Staff must keep track of patients fluid intake and output.

Malnutrition – We all know food is a basic requirement to keep our bodies functioning properly. Yet, when inappropriate foods (solid foods given to an are given to patients who can not eat them) or no staff assistance is provided to patients who are unable to feed themselves serious health problems may develop.

Nursing Home Liability for Neglect of Patients

It is not necessary to distinguish the type of neglect nor establish actual intent on the part of the facility to pursue a cause of action premised on neglect. Rather, if your loved one suffered a bed sore or other type of injury due to inaction on the part of a caretaker, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for the resulting damages.

Can dehydration contribute to the development of bed sores?

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:22:06 +0000

Yes. Dehydration occurs when a person does not receive enough liquid through oral consumption or via a feeding tube. Inadequate fluid consumption results in imbalance of the bodies chemistry and reduction of blood volume. Changes in blood volume and chemistry typically interfere with circulation. The decrease in circulation translates to inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissue– enabling bed sores (also called decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores) to form.

Optimal hydration can only be determined by a medical professional after evaluating a patient’s fluid intake compared with their fluid output. Nonetheless, an agreed upon starting point is 1,500 to 2,000 ml (six to eight glasses) of fluid per day.

Elderly people are particularly susceptible to dehydration because many they have diminished thirst perception and they wish to avoid embarrassing accidents due to incontinence. Therefore, it is crucial for caregivers to pay special attention to the symptoms of potential dehydration:

Sunken eyes
Cracked lips
Ashen skin
Rapid decline in cognitive function
Chills
Dark colored urine
Weakness

Dehydration Death Costs Nursing Home $6.5M

Nursing Home Fined In Dehydration Death

We All Need Water