How to deal with pressure sores?

The number one thing is to get the pressure off the pressure points! When DH stopped walking a year ago or so he developed pressure sores on his coccyx. Even though he was on hospice and had an alternating pressure mattress on his bed, he sat in his wheelchair most of the time. When we discovered the spot we immediately started turning him from side to side when he was in bed and got a coccyx "cutout" cushion for him to sit on. We kept the sore covered with some special stick-on bandages until it wasn't open anymore, with calmoseptine all around but not on the sore itself. Also open to the air as much as possible (when he was napping on his side). Messy and labor intensive--calmoseptine & 2-way incontinence and a very hairy fellow he is too (:)). Then when it occurred again, we got silvadene ointment to put directly on the sore and that worked too. Finally, he qualified for Medicare to pay for a "tilt-in-space" wheelchair based on the history of pressure sores. Currently has a roho cushion but I don't like the fact that it could leak. We are getting a Jay cushion which has several layers. The chair allows various angles so that the pressure points aren't always in the same place. But the main thing is to keep him OFF the sore at least until it heals.

I have found that a sheepskin has made a vast difference to my mother's butt and lower spine. I have one on her bed and a smaller one for her wheelchair and sitting room chair.

Try giving her Prostat x3 daily. She must be turned every two hours or less so that pressure ulcers do not develop/get worse. My mom developed 6 stage 4 pressure ulcers do to healthcare incompetence. I fought to bring her home with home care. I am on everyone's back to now get them healed up asap although my mom is immobile and underweight. It's a long story but the bottom line is that pressure ulcers are preventable, and if treated correctly can heal. Also you need an air mattress or water bed. Don't use a donut ring when she sits up. Have a competent wound doctor look at it and, depending on the stage, maybe you can have a wound nurse come and dress it. The Prostat should help with rapid healing. Protein is needed for chronic wound healing.

Dear Sister45,
Wow! It is amazing that your mom is up and walking at all. My mom is 91 and has been pretty much bed bound for at least 10 years. She goes in a wheelchair to church on Sunday & to the doctors. I asked one of her doctors how to prevent pressure sores & he checked with his colleagues at the Washington Hospital Center. They recommended an air loss mattress. These are very expensive ($4,000 and up), but I found an air loss mattress overlay which works beautifully. It has a pump and is a plastic mattress which goes on top of her regular mattress. It cost about $300 & I got it from one of the medical supply companies on-line. It is very easy and we have had it going for at least 5 years. It stays plugged in and does its job. It has been well worth it. We do have a Roho cushion for her chair, but she doesn't find it very comfortable.
Best of luck and prayers! You deserve a medal for helping her all this time.
Sincerely,
Old Maid

What a blessing to have your mom still with you at 108....that's amazing!
My mom (90 yrs) is in the advance stages of Alzheimers and is confined to her bed. We have the prescribed alternating air pressure mattress, and all the cushions, creams, ointments to combat pressure sores along with a really wonderful 5 day live in caregiver who is really vigilant in doing everything in her power to prevent bed sores from developing on my mom. One suggestion my mom's visiting nurse did suggest is a product called JUVEN. Check with her doctor before giving it to her. It's a product made by the same company that makes Ensure and you can order it on Amazon. It's been a fantastic product for my mother...check out the reviews. I hope it helps your mom.

First use zinc oxide very minimally. Less is more. Research has shown that it acts like an astringent. The dolphin mattress is the most recommended one to prevent ulcers. Not cheap though. Not to sound cold, but could probably resell it later since hospitals use them between patients. Minor frequent shifts with pillows from left, right, to center should likely be okay for her hip. Not on side.

My mom had issues but started with a fall on a trinket box. We still have issues. Wound Care has us use Aloe Vista. and it would be fine but my mom picks. Good luck.

It is really weird, but my daughter is bedridden and has been for 3 years. We were getting a prescription for her bed sores and tried some vaseline when we ran out. The sores are completely gone and I slather her butt with the vaseline every time I change her (4-5 times a day). I only use wipes to clean her and with using only the vaseline, she has a nice clean, pink babies butt. She also has an inflatable, rotating pressure mattress on her hospital bed that she rents to own. Make sure you get a good one. Trying to save money ends up in throwing the pad away due to tears. We had that happen the first time. My daughter is only 59, so that may be accountable for the ease of keeping sores at bay. God bless you and your amazing Mother.