The number of people in need of care in Germany is rising steadily. According to forecasts, around 4.6 million people will be dependent on qualified care in 2060. According to the Robert Koch Institute, these people in need of care have a particularly high risk of developing pressure sores. Bedridden, immobile persons are particularly at risk. In Germany, an estimated 400,000 people develop more than one pressure ulcer requiring treatment each year. The risk is particularly high in inpatient care for the elderly, where more than 50% of residents have an increased risk of pressure ulcers. The treatment of a pressure ulcer can cost up to €70,000 per year, as it often requires an extended hospital stay, additional medication and dressings and rehabilitation measures.
Appropriate measures to prevent pressure ulcers and optimized therapy can significantly reduce these costs. In addition, the quality of life of patients and residents can be significantly improved in this way. Pressure ulcer prophylaxis and the treatment of pressure ulcers that have already developed also represent a major burden for nursing staff. According to the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), one thing above all is crucial in preventing pressure ulcers: Movement .
wissner-bosserhoff has developed a digital nursing assistant that monitors the movement activity of residents or patients and can thus make a valuable contribution to pressure ulcer prevention.
SafeSense® 3 for pressure ulcer prophylaxis and fall prevention
The contactless, patented sensor pad is positioned under the mattress. It registers the resident’s movements and alerts caregivers to insufficient activity, which can subsequently lead to a pressure ulcer. In addition, as a precise, individually adjustable system for bed exit monitoring, SafeSense® 3 represents an important tool for fall prevention. With this new technology, wissner-bosserhoff has set itself the goal of reducing the use of restraint measures and improving patient and resident safety.
Relief for nursing staff
The nursing shortage has long been a bitter reality due to the steadily rising number of people in need of care and the simultaneous lack of urgently needed qualified nursing staff. It leads to poorer care for residents, especially on a physical level, but also on a personal level, while nursing staff are completely overworked, not only mentally but also physically. SafeSense® 3 contributes to the early detection of hazards such as pressure sores and falls, as well as to the effective prioritization of check-ups. In this way, there is more time for dignified care; for conversations, games, or simply reassuring residents that they are not alone.
SafeSense® 3 should not be seen as the sole prevention of pressure sores; however, the digital nursing assistant can provide targeted support for the existing options and the nursing staff. Above all, it shows that technical innovations are available to us today, which we should use to sustainably improve the prevention of pressure ulcers as well as the care itself.
