Cellulitus in a care home

emmielou

My grandmther has been admitted to hospital due to cellulitus from pressure sores where she sits for long periods.

I was wondering if this is common in older people? She lives in a nursing care home and not a particularly cheap one and i'm wondering if we should bring up the fact that this has happened with them or if it is a common occurance in older people

They are often short staffed and I have been concerned about the managers attitude and some of the other staff. They recently mentioned that they might remove the chair in her room for 'someone who needs it more'. Its not anything exciting, pretty much just a chair but clearly with the pressure sores she is someone who needs it. She did have a air type matteress at one point but they removed this when we asked that she be moved to a room that was free that overlooked the gardens.

I feel like writing to the manager (who isn't particularly charming to say the least) and pointing out that its a shame that this is occurred and that I am concerned about them saying about taking away the chair.

It may be that this is common but I just feel so sorry for poor granny

peardrops_2

I'm 38 and I got cellulitus last year!

I suffer from dry skin and scratched myself until I broke the skin. Infection then got in and I got cellulitus.

A course of anti-biotics soon got rid but my leg is scarred from it.

Not sure this will help you, but I managed to catch it without living in a care home or being elderly.

emmielou

peardrops wrote: »

I'm 38 and I got cellulitus last year!

I suffer from dry skin and scratched myself until I broke the skin. Infection then got in and I got cellulitus.

A course of anti-biotics soon got rid but my leg is scarred from it.

Not sure this will help you, but I managed to catch it without living in a care home or being elderly.

I know you can get it generally, i'm more concerned about whether more should have been doen to prevent it in terms of pressure sores

Gran has to stay in hospital for 4-5 days whilst they give her intravenous anti-biotics.

Poor you, I know its not nice, my ex had a bump whilst playing football and managed to get cellulitus even though it didn't appear he had broken the skin, it just became very inflamed and red and was very painful.

peardrops_2

It is extremely painful I have to say. I will speak to my auntie who's a medical person and see what she says about pressure sores.

My granddad had terrible pressure sores in hospital due to not moving every 2 hours. This may be the case for you.

However if you aren't happy with the manager of the care home sack them! Move your relative to a home you ARe happy with.

emmielou

She does sit alot so if anyone reading this has any recommendations on cushions to help that would be very helpful.

Dad and I have discussed other places but its so hard finding something thats right. At the moment she is really close to where dad lives, she previously lived far away and was in a home there but moved closer to us. Dad works shifts and I think the benefit of him being able to pop in and keep her company are huge. She came on leaps and bounds once she came to live closer. Where she is now she has a largish room compared to other places which is good as she spends most of the time in her room and I do worry about moving her to somewhere that seems nicer but makes her less happy. I swear its got to be one of the hardest decisions to make, you just want the very best for your loved ones don't you.

Reluctant_spender

If you are really concerned speak with Social Service and ask them to make a referral into the POVA Process - Protection of Vulnerable Adults.

splishsplash

Try NICE guidelines for both pressure-relieving devices and pressure sore preventionand treatment.

I hope your poor gran feels better soon.

jessicamb

is your relative fairly mobile or immobile? A relative of mine has got to the point now where she cant really move about much anymore and consequently gets pressure sores. The home do try and minimise the effects though as part of her care. She also has special cushions to sit on and just recently an air mattress for her bed. I dont think they could do any more and they still happen.

Can you not speak with the officers/management at the care home? Sounds like something that would be dealt with better face to face initially.

Snuggles

Reluctant_spender wrote: »

If you are really concerned speak with Social Service and ask them to make a referral into the POVA Process - Protection of Vulnerable Adults.

Social services cannot make referrals to POVA, only the employer or CSCI (now CQC) can make referrals.

fuzzybear01

Cellulitis is common in older people but there is no reason for pressure sores to be. You need to find out whether the care home have assessed her for risk. Most people in care homes will have been assessed, and if she has been assessed as being at medium-high risk then she should be provided with a pressure relieving mattress and, if she sits in a chair, a pressure relieving-cushion.

If the home is short-staffed and your Gran is incontinent, she may be left wet for long periods, and this will contribute further.

Specialist pressure-relieving equipment is very expensive, and you should not have to fund it yourself. Please make sure that you let the care home know you are worried about their care. It has been known for people to litigate when their relative gets a pressure ulcer,

frankie55

Cellulitis is horrible, but can occur in younger people as well as older people, I had it last year from scratching on my leg de to a reaction to a drug. Pressure sores are almost always due to poor nursing (I'm not attacking any health care providers, I know they are stressed and undermaned) I would be more concerned on how they happened, but again they are common in poorly mobilised people. My Mother when she was in a home had the same problems. They took away the chair she liked, we the family bought her her own reclining/ push you up chair and made sure the management knew about it, we had also taken her adjustable bed into the home with her and they put an air mattress on top of it. It sounds as if she is getting many family visits which will greatly enhance her quality of life. Make absolutly sure that the Home Manager knows that you are monitoring your Grandmother, in a nice way of course, and ask questions and let them know you are not willing to be fobbed off. It's a fine line to tread I know, you don't want to be awkward and have you loved one 'picked on' just let them know that you are aware of her treatment needs.
The home my Mam was in wasn't the best, you don't always have a lot of choice I know, and there was sometimes a whiff of urine in the air before the air freshener got it, but the staff were very very kind, she never came out of her room, but when the passed her open door they always said Hello or waved and chatted when they had time. When it came to the end, they allowed her to stay in her own bed, instead of wizzing her off to hospital, and supported the family in a very kind way, not making us feel in the way, and supplying a huge amoun tof tea and sandwiches etc to keep us going through the night. It was a much more personal event than any I've had to be at in a hospital. The post above says what I've just said better than me.
take care of yourself and your Dad so you can take care of your Grandmother God Bless