Elderly aunts bruised hand

[vegas888]

My aunt is in a care home, I visited her today and saw a massive bruise on her hand. I asked what had happened to one of the staff and she said she didn’t know but would get someone to call me.
I know elderly people bruise more easily but this looks horrendous.

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Is she on blood thinners as my DM is following a stroke and bruises really easily

Is your aunt able to say? I’m presuming not.

Good for you for looking out for her. Hope you get some answers.

What does your aunt say?

Are you her next of kin? I would’ve thought a next of kin should be informed of any injuries, but maybe I’m wrong. I’d definitely want to know what happened. She hasn’t had any medical procedures has she? A cannula could leave a bad bruise on someone elderly.

@WetWeekends

Are you her next of kin? I would’ve thought a next of kin should be informed of any injuries, but maybe I’m wrong. I’d definitely want to know what happened. She hasn’t had any medical procedures has she? A cannula could leave a bad bruise on someone elderly.

Next of kin has no general meaning in law and doesn't confer any rights.

Could be from blood being taken maybe? I've seen old people bruise horribly from cannulas and the like being put in the back of their hand? It seems a strange place for it to be if it was something suspicious but it's worth investigating.

They normally inform me if she’s had a fall that’s why I felt shocked when I saw her today.

A good care home would have been proactive about this and contacted the next of kin to report the bruising without having to be prompted.
There are many explanations for severe bruising in the frail elderly. But the only explanation for the care home not having noticed it and reacted is neglect.
Take a pocture and report to the CQC.

@hoomans

Could be from blood being taken maybe? I've seen old people bruise horribly from cannulas and the like being put in the back of their hand? It seems a strange place for it to be if it was something suspicious but it's worth investigating.

This is the most likely explanation. Plus older people bruise incredibly easily.

I’m trying to attach a photo 😕

I agree with PP.
Sending love to you both x

My dear late mother was completely ‘with it’ and would often show me big bruises that she had no idea how they had come about. Definitely any blood taking heft her very bruised. Like pp’s have said, old people do bruise incredibly easily (she was also on warfarin - blood thinner). But you’re absolutely right to ask about it.

My elderly mother used to have some horrendous bruising now and then. Her care home staff were extremely good, but couldn’t invariably know how it had happened. At that age, when skin is so thin, it can take just a slight knock. My DM had dementia so she could never tell me what had happened.,

After a fall she once had the most appalling bruising on her face - staff warned me before I saw her - anyone would think she’d done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. She was quite un-bothered by it though.

She could have knocked her hand at any time and it can leave a large bruise in the elderly even from a gentle know - have a chat with the care home. It does not sound sinister.

you are right to ask but they genuinely may not know. My Mum used to bruise incredibly easily and they looked horrendous. The very good GP said that it was something that could happen to older people as they got frailer.

I know you are worried OP but please don’t post a picture! Unless your Aunt can give consent to sharing an image you shouldn’t. Ignore the previous poster that said report to CQC. They aren’t the lead agency for specific concerns like this - you can report to the local authority as a safeguarding adults concern if you suspect abuse/neglect.

My mum used to bruise horrendously and it would be from a tiny tap when she reached for her walking frame or knocking the edge of the table when getting her knitting.

Ancient MiL bruises herself badly about once a month. Generally no idea how. Possibly your aunt just banged her hand or if someone was trying to help her up their grasp was a bit strong - not intentionally hurting her but stopping her from slipping or similar.

Why on Earth would you report it to the CQC or safeguarding at this stage?

Give the staff a chance to explain it - I’ve seen some corkers of bruises on older people from just knocking it on the sink when brushing their teeth, catching it on the table when reaching for a drink etc. Older people have fragile skin, fragile blood vessels and may be on medication that causes easy bruising such as anticoagulants, steroids etc.

The staff may not know how it happened, which doesn’t automatically mean it’s suspicious. Residents aren’t watched 24 hours a day.

Obviously if you have concerns regarding her care and this is one event of many that’s a different situation but jumping to allegations of neglect and abuse is a bit of an overreaction from a bruise on a hand.

I hope she’s ok and her hand isn’t too sore.

Put a covert camera in her room.

What meds is she on? Is it where you’d expect a cannula to go? Rather than speaking to the general staff, ask the manager.

My mum gets bruises on her hands from just knocking them accidentally. They look awful but she never has any recollection of doing anything.

Doesn't necessarily sound suspicious at this point. They normally ley you know if she has had a fall, and she may just have banged it and doesn't remember. I'm only 55 and found a massive bruise on my arm that I have no recollect of banging.

Anyone mistreating would usually try to not leave marks where they might be seen you'd think?

You've done the right thing telling them you've noticed so i'd just keep an eye on things and maybe try to visit at a time you don't normally?

@vegas888

I’m trying to attach a photo 😕

Don’t attach a photo. This would be a huge breach of her privacy.