Wound Care

As your loved one declines, old age can compromise their biggest organ – the skin. As the body ages, its natural functions often function less efficiently. This includes the skin’s ability to heal even a small wound. This is why we emphasize proper wound care to prevent infection and further complications. At Orange Hospice, we focus on supporting the patient for comfort.

Types Of Wounds We Handle

We handle different types of wounded, including:

Pressure Wounds – These are the most common types of wounds due to different factors. Even the most vigilant care is often insufficient to prevent skin deterioration in patients at the end of life. In this situation, our goal is to manage pain and other symptoms of distress.

Skin Tears – These types of pounds are also common. They are caused by shearing and friction, especially on the extremities. Sometimes, they can extend into the underlying layer. Skin becomes less elastic and thinner, and fat cells are lost with age. At Orange Hospice, we understand that tears can occur with minimal trauma and aim to address them early on.

Ulcers – Skin ulcers are common due to poor circulation at the end of life. They often affect the lower extremities, can be chronic, and fail to heal. Our care aims to manage symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Tumors or fungating lesions — These happen most often as cancer either in the breast, head, neck, or elsewhere on the body. These cause fluid discharge and small blood vessel bleeding. We help with managing the symptoms of this.

Our Wound Care Treatment Service

Our would care service include many things, including:

• Wound Treatment
• Wound Assessment
• Wound Care
• Tetracyte
• Electronic Health Record
• Mobile Vascular Screening
• Digital Wound Management
• Advanced Wound Dressings

Our goal is to:

• Prevent infections of any wounds
• Prevent additional wounds or breakage on the skin
• Ensure that the wound has the least harmful effect on the patient’s overall condition

At Orange Hospice, we use an interdisciplinary approach to wound care. We visit patients in need of wound care once a week to provide care and perform an in-depth body analysis to assess the patient’s progress and conduct preventative interventions in areas that are at risk.

Our nurses and aides also inspect patients’ skin during routine visits to identify any areas at risk and communicate any issues to the hospice clinical team. We also offer ongoing education to families and patients on preventative measures. We will discuss care goals and create plans to help patients improve their quality of life.

However, we understand that skin changes and wounds may occur even with the best preventative care. We aim to relieve suffering with the highest-quality wound care for each person and strive to achieve dignity, respect, and independence for each patient.