The more serious the condition, the more medical professionals you see, right? Nothing is more evident of this than with bed sores. Beginning as seemingly small skin irritations, bed sores can quickly spin out of control leading to infection and hospitalization. If you or someone you care for is dealing with a bed sore, count on these five folks to help: Bed Sore Care
General Practitioner Bed Sore Care
Your family doctor, or general practitioner, will likely be the medical professional who first sees you or your loved one about a potential bed sore and either refers you to a wound care specialist, strategizes a treatment plan with you, and/or writes a medical order for home health. General practitioners may not think to ask after any potential bed sores or early signs of a pressure ulcer, so make sure to keep them apprised of any pinkish discolorations or open sores you find on the body, even if you’re not sure what it is. Bed Sore Care
Wound Care Specialist
A wound care specialist is a healthcare professional who has specifically been trained in the areas of wound care and treatment, for everything from injury and surgery, to bed sores – they might be nurses, doctors, or physical therapists. Typically, if a pressure ulcer does not heal with conventional methods within a month, your doctor will refer you to a wound care specialist. They will diagnose the stage of your bed sore (there are 4 stages), measure it, and educate you and your family about ongoing care and treatment.
Home Health Nurse
Weekly (or even more frequent) visits by a home health nurse will be a welcome occurrence in helping you keep an eye on the pressure ulcer and ask any questions or express concerns. Home health nurses will arrive with supplies to assist with bed sore treatment, and you can ask them for refills when you are out – sometimes they can help, and other times they will have to order supplies that get shipped to your home.
Nutritionist
A conversation with a registered dietitian or nutritionist might not be explicitly requested by your doctor, however, it could be helpful when it comes to treating and preventing bed sores. A nutritionist can share foods that promote tissue repair and facilitate healing, like vitamin-rich oranges, broccoli, and olives. As well, they might suggest vitamin supplements and nutritional powders and drinks that help you or your loved one maintain a healthy weight to expedite healing and prevent future sores.
Personal Caregiver
Quite possibly the most important player in bed sore treatment is a personal caregiver – be it a private hire or a family member. Daily care and wound monitoring, whether it is dressing a pressure ulcer, applying barrier cream, or consistently shifting the body weight to alleviate pressure off the sore, comes down to a personal caregiver. With an education from your physician, home health nurse, wound care specialist, and nutritionist, successful wound care and wound healing is absolutely possible at home.
There are so many unknowns when it comes to aging or caregiving, don’t let bed sores be one of them. Knowing the different types of health care professionals who can assist with wound treatment and prevention, you are more equipped than ever to effectively combat bed sores if one should ever present itself.
