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Rummel09 Asked March 2020

Mom (84) with lung cancer and dementia is on hospice and has a bed sore on the heel of her foot. What limits hospice to treat wound?

AlvaDeer Mar 2020
Usually the limitations are comfort care, palliative care, that would mean boots and devices that keep pressure off the healing wound, dressing the wound, keeping the patient on her side. This is a very common type of ulcer to get in the end because of general debility and pressure often on that area. Pain is the main concern in palliative, end stage care, so whatever measures are required to stop this from worsening as much as possible, to keep comfortable and provide pain relief.

Countrymouse Mar 2020
Nothing. Palliative care (as opposed to active or therapeutic) does not mean letting your patient rot.

CW is absolutely right: treating and preventing pressure ulcers in a frail, immobile patient is extremely difficult. If you have concerns about how this is being managed by your mother's hospice team, ask them to talk you through their skin integrity protocols.

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cwillie Mar 2020
They shouldn't be limited in treating a pressure ulcer, keeping it from getting larger is a quality of life issue. That said treatment at end of life is going to be difficult and will probably just be to keep weight off her heels - perhaps through wearing a special boot and repositioning - and to clean and bandage the wound. I'm assuming she is already receiving pain management.

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