Care Plan is Key for Preventing Virginia Nursing Home Resident Contractures

Contractures – a painful condition where hands, feet, legs or arms pull towards the body – can and should be avoided in Virginia nursing home residents.  When a resident arrives at a nursing home, they should be evaluated for the likelihood that they will develop a contracture.  This evaluation should be used by the nursing home to develop a comprehensive care plan.

 

If the contracture susceptibility evaluation is not done properly – or not done at all – then a resident will not get the care they need to avoid developing a contracture.  On the other hand, if the evaluation is done and a care plan is developed incorrectly or not at all, then the evaluation is useless.

 

A proper evaluation and care plan procedure should outline steps that can be done to minimize a resident’s chances of developing contractures.  These steps can include:

 

• Positioning:  Ensuring that a resident is properly positioned in their chair, wheelchair or beds. Modifications to beds, chairs or wheelchairs may be necessary to accommodate the resident.
• Exercise: Range of motion exercises are very important for preventing contractures.  The care plan should specify what exercises are necessary and how often they should be performed.
• Splinting: In some cases it may be advisable for a resident to wear a splint in order to prevent contractures from developing.  These can be hinged to allow for range of motion exercise so that the joint can be flexed, but contractures cannot develop.

 

Please contact either our Culpeper or Warrenton office for help with your nursing home abuse or neglect questions and concerns.