fragile skin
fall crackles beneath feet
blue eye question
sky hidden behind clouds
arms reach for emptiness
wind blows yesterday
your toes wave at me
another good day
***
People may not know it but skin is a barrier to disease and in the elderly skin is a battle front. Broken Skin breaks and tears like tissue paper. A little bump against a chair can cause a big bruise or even a tear which can then be a wound. When we are “young” and active a wound heals in days in the elderly that same wound can take weeks to months. The worst wound I saw when I was a wound care nurse was in a bed bound woman whose bed sore had become a tunnel. That tunnel was about 305 mm (approx 1 foot). Through daily care, hydration and diet we were shrinking that tunnel. Needless to say those wounds on your backside are painful.
One of my main goals (with the elderly) is always up and out of bed. If they are now bed bound they need to shift as often as possible. If they can do that themselves so much the better but everyone favors their left or right side so they need to shift. In the hospital we often have to position our patients that used to be every two hours.
If you have a family member who is now in bed, get that person moving. If they cannot use pillows to wedge them on one side then the other. Legs up (on a pillow) legs down. And please keep them clean. Uric acid in briefs and just from our skin breaks down skin.
Places where we become fragile are sacral area (its boney there) elbows, ankles.
If you read my post a few days ago I mentioned water. Water will actually help keep skin cells plumper. Elderly do not drink alot of fluids because then they have to get up (and go).
I think my letter “W” will be for water. I have learned to have a great respect for that molecule.
My leaf photograph reminds me so much of the elderly clients I have had over the years. They are fragile but with a singular beauty.
Any good skin tips? Lotions or awesome soaps????
Hope you are enjoying the A to Z challenge and thanks for your visit.
penned in moon dust 