Our elderly population is rapidly increasing and with it, the number of Hawaii senior assisted living facilities is increasing as well. While the majority of facilities provide quality care and genuinely care about the well-being of their patients, you still need to choose carefully and ensure they care for your loved one properly.

Assisted living facilities offer a wide range of services and support that you need to match with you or your loved one’s health status and level of independence. Some group homes, adult day care facilities and companionship services are not intended to offer full service support, skilled nursing and medical care. Additionally, these services are not subject to the same level of regulation and requirements as Hawaii senior assisted living facilities.

Some make the mistake of choosing these services because they did not ask the proper questions or they are simply trying to provide care on a very restricted budget. Unfortunately, this can result in a wide range of problems.

Bedsore Causes

A common issue seen among services not structured to provide the appropriate level of care or assisted living facilities not properly attending to patients is bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers. Bedsores are caused by continuous pressure on the skin, which restricts blood flow, most often due to a patient being left in bed and without mobility for long periods of time.

If a facility is properly caring for patients, then bedsores can typically be avoided. However, once bedsores become issue they can be difficult to treat and cure completely. When interviewing potential Hawaii senior assisted living facilities, you may want to ask them about their specific approach to preventing and treating bedsores of their patients. This will give you an idea as to how detailed and thorough their level of care is.

Below are some easy and simple methods that will help you prevent bedsores from occurring.

Preventing Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)

• Proper nutrition Assists in prevention
• If in a wheelchair, weight should be shifted every 15-30 minutes
• Apply talcum powder to prevent too much perspiration
• Apply lotion to heal dry or irritated skin
• Use a cushion that helps to relieve pressure
• Adjust the elevation and level of the patient’s bed
• Specialty mattresses are available that may help prevention of bedsores
• If possible, stay active
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated