Yvonne develops a pressure area
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Yvonne had recently started using a wheelchair. She was a resident used to making her own decisions and was able to make well informed choices. She regularly played cards, usually three afternoons each week. "It keeps my brain active", she said. After using the wheelchair for a number of weeks, Yvonne started playing cards for hours each day. She told staff that, "If I can’t use my legs, I’ll have to use my brain a whole lot more." Staff had talked to her about the need to frequently move various parts of her body that were in contact with the wheelchair, to make sure she didn’t develop pressure areas. Over time, staff noticed that Yvonne wasn’t moving as frequently as she needed to. When Yvonne was reminded that she should move more frequently, she became annoyed and said, "This is my life and if I don’t want to move, no one can make me. Leave me alone." Some of the staff members were upset by her reaction and concerned that she would develop a pressure area. They talked about their concerns at handover time. The team supervisor explained that Yvonne was capable of making an informed decision, and that though staff still had a role to discuss pressure area prevention and to assist her if she indicated she wanted help, they could not force her to move. |
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