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The Importance of Repositioning Bedridden Patients

Pressure ulcers are an affliction that imposes itself upon about 2.5 million patients each year. Some of these injuries are unavoidable but most can be prevented simply by frequently repositioning patients that are bedridden. Currently, the standard time-frame for repositioning is every two hours, however, it is really dependent on the individual and their complications that should dictate how often they are re-positioned to best reduce the risk of bed sores.

Important Factors

Here are some things to keep in mind when determining what is right for your patient or loved one:

  • Patient’s tissue tolerance
  • Level of activity and mobility
  • General medical condition
  • Overall treatment objectives
  • Skin condition
  • Comfort

Rule of 30

A good guideline for repositioning a bedridden patient is the “Rule of 30.” The head of the bed should be elevated to 30 degrees and the body should be placed in a 30-degree, laterally inclined, position. You should also tilt the patient’s hips and shoulders to 30 degrees when laying on their back, and use pillows or wedges to keep the patient positioned as such to keep pressure off of the hips or buttocks.

Bed Trapeze

If your bedridden loved one resides at home, without the help of an aid or nurse around the clock, a wise investment would be to purchase a bed trapeze. A medical trapeze hangs over the bed to function as a grab bar, providing leverage for patients with upper body strength to position themselves without help. If the particular individual possesses upper body strength, this device can need help with sitting up in bed or transferring in and out of bed, providing independent mobility while in bed as well as while you get in and out of bed.

There are several techniques and pieces of durable medical equipment that could be beneficial, just remember there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. Focus on the patient’s unique needs and take it from there. Just be sure that no matter what method you proceed with, that the patient is frequently re-positioned to keep the bed ulcers away.