Question

Mr. Brown is being treated for pressure ulcers. Mr. Brown has dementia and limited mobility, and he lives with his daughter, spending most of his day sitting in a chair. What should you suggest to Mr. Brown's daughter to help reduce his risk for pressure ulcers?

1) Have Mr. Brown sit in a more comfortable chair.
2) Place a memory foam pad on Mr. Brown's chair.
3) Have Mr. Brown stay in bed rather than sit in a chair.
4) Reposition Mr. Brown in the chair every 3 hours.

Answer 1

The best recommendation for reducing the risk of pressure ulcers in Mr. Brown is to regularly reposition him in his chair every two to three hours, which is crucial for preventing prolonged pressure on any one area.

Step-by-step explanation:

To help reduce the risk of pressure ulcers for Mr. Brown, who has dementia and limited mobility, the most effective strategy would be option 4, to regularly reposition Mr. Brown in the chair. It is recommended to reposition immobile patients every two to three hours to relieve pressure and improve blood flow to at-risk areas of the body. While a more comfortable chair and a memory foam pad might provide some benefit by redistributing pressure (option 1 and 2), these do not replace the need for regular movement. Having Mr. Brown stay in bed (option 3) would not alleviate the pressure unless he is also being repositioned in bed. Therefore, in addition to any supportive devices for comfort, ensuring frequent repositioning is the essential measure to take.