It’s no secret that Florida is home to many senior citizens. One study found this state to be home to more elderly people than any other in the United States. Some seniors can care for themselves with no need for assistance. However, other elderly people require help with several or all aspects of daily living.
Understanding pressure ulcers
One potential way to stay healthy is by remaining mobile. That said, people often find it challenging to stay active as they age. When this happens, these older people require assistance from another person or people to maintain mobility. If senior citizens don’t have ways to remain mobile, staying confined in one area creates pressure ulcers.
Commonly called bed sores, pressure ulcers happen due to non-stop pressure between a surface and someone’s bones. If this person remains idle, pressure ulcers can form and worsen. Worsening bed sores can turn into infected wounds that sometimes begin killing tissue.
The problem of underreporting ulcers
Looking at nursing home admission data from 2011 to 2017, researchers analyzed data concerning over 60,000 admissions and about 400,000 hospital admissions. According to this data, care facilities didn’t report 22% of primary patient ulcers. Making matters worse, this statistic nearly doubles regarding secondary ulcers. Assisted living, nursing homes and other care facilities failed to report about 45% of patients’ secondary ulcers.
A potential way to resolve underreporting
Assisted living facility abuse & neglect aren’t new problems. However, experts remain optimistic concerning ways to keep patients safer and healthier. One way to resolve this problem that’s gaining momentum is to impose harsher penalties for facilities guilty of underreporting.
Placing a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility is a major decision. Before choosing a care facility, do due diligence and research your options thoroughly.
