Do you know what stage the bedsore is? Did he have a bedsore when he entered the nursing home? My hubby had a Stage IV decubitus ulcer on his butt ten years ago. Stage IV is the worst it can get. He was in the hospital and very ill for 10 days before being transferred to a skilled nursing and rehab facility. He had a wound vac that was used to help with the healing process and came home two months later on complete bedrest until the wound closed. It never did and he had to return to the hospital a few months later for a surgical procedure called a "flap procedure" where they actually stretched skin over the open wound, That required another skilled rehab center for further healing with a final trip to a Rehabilitation Center to recover enough strength to be able to transfer in and out of his wheelchair. He lost a lot of his upper body strength during the total of seven months in bed.

Now I do skin checks on him a few times a day. It doesn't take long for someone who has decreased activity, poor nutrition or poor appetite and especially with incontinence to have skin issues.

I am not trying to frighten you. The staging of the bedsore will depend on how long the process will take. Things get more complicated depending on a patient's nutritional status. At the time my hubby's bedsore he was just beginning to have memory problems and confusion and his dementia was not diagnosed until 2009. So sorry this is happening. This is a good place to come to vent when stressed. Hang in there.........Jeanmarie

Hi!

Don't know anything about this topic, but stopping in to give a hug and say sorry that there is even more to deal with.....

If it is in the beginning stages and hasnt gone into muscle tissue or real deep... make sure they dont put a "diaper cream" type ointment on it because that harbors bacteria and will keep it to moist. It needs to get air to it, frequent turning and keeping clean and dry.

If it has gotten to the stage like mentioned above, a wound-vac can do wonders. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to prevent with anyone that is on long term bedrest and in the condition most Alz patients are.

Good luck with it all, and if he cant stop scratching at them...suggest mittens or curlex (gauze wrap) to cover his hands while not being montitored. Keep us posted.

Oh dear! I saw the Tissue Viability Nurse for the first time yesterday and he said its virtually at a stage IV - its really quite dark and about 3 and a half inches long. They are putting creams on and a dressing - the dressing has a pale pink look about it - around the edges. Problem is he keeps putting his hand down it and scratching and yesterday when I left they noticed the dressing was coming off a bit. Really sorry about your hubby sosadandtired. It really is a stressful time, isn't it. Gordon is eating well and drinking lots. His Alzheimer's is very advanced. Big hugs to you. Don't know if I've added you, but if not, can I add you as a friend?

Yeah I know a little about Stage IV wounds. Jim got one while in the hospital in August; went back to the hospital in September to have surgery on it; went to a skilled nursing facility for rehab. We demanded they put him on a wound vac. He was in rehab for almost three months and we brought him home Dec. 23. He is still on the vac and the wound is about 2/3 healed. Now he has another one on his right hip. Doctor prescribed silvadene for this one and I began using it yesterday; will see how fast (or slow) it heals. His wound was about 3 inches around, and 21/2 inches deep, to the bone in places.

We met with Hospice on Tuesday but decided against them. They don't offer anything we need to help him; such as using the vac; IVs for dehydration (which he gets every month or two) or anything else we feel we need to make him comfortable. So, we are doing our thing and taking it a day at a time.

Smiley, Jim is in the very late stages; is bedridden; but eats and sleeps well. He is also incontinent, both bowel and urine and is on a cathether. We insist he keep the catherer so he can be kept dry while the wound heals.

I've learned that you have to be really insistent to get things you need. I used to be this meek, quiet-spoken person, but no more.

You all take care and thanks for being here.
Love you all
Mary

I get very sore from wearing diapers. I'm told I'm at risk of pressure sores so I guess that's what you need to keep in mind. It can become serious so cenrtainly can't be ignored.

www.diaper-incontinence.net

I get very sore from wearing diapers. I'm told I'm at risk of pressure sores so I guess that's what you need to keep in mind. It can become serious so certainly can't be ignored.

www.incontinence-diaper.net

I don't know about those severe sores, but my hubby keeps getting one in the same place. We use desonide on it as soon as he feels it coming. He is so skin and bone on the buttocks and the skin breaks down so easily. I'm sorry your hubby is having all these troubles at such a young age.
this is a cruel and horrendous disease we are dealing with.

Hugs...Carolyn