As a live-in carer, your attention to detail is crucial for monitoring the health of those you care for. One essential tool you'll rely on is the Body Map Chart.
This article breaks down why Body Map Charts matter and how to use them easily in your routine.
When you observe any mark on the skin, it is essential to record and report it immediately. Body Map Charts provide a standardised format for recording these observations, ensuring that details aren't overlooked or forgotten.
Please find the agenda of this article:
How to use Body Map Charts:
Observation: During your daily care routines, keep your eyes out for any changes in the care recipient’s skin. This could be during bathing, dressing, or simply assisting them with daily activities.
Documentation: When you notice a mark, please draw on the body map in black ink, using the following key to indicate the different types of injury (shading or alphabetic code), and provide brief details for each injury, following the prompts on the back of the sheet.
The following details must be recorded (if applicable):
Measurement of area and shape (use a ruler to assist with measurement)
Colour of bruise (if applicable, especially during monitoring to show healing)
Any information the Care Recipient or their family gave you about the injury, bruise, mark etc.
Any medical advice you may have been given by the District Nurse, GP etc.
Regular check-ins: Don't just mark it and forget it. Keep monitoring the marked areas regularly. Note any changes in the marks' appearance or if new ones appear.
Communication: Share your observations and updates with your coordinator. We need to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the care recipient’s health.
How does the Body Map Chart look like
Find an example of how to fill out the Body Map Chart
Care Recipient Name | write down the name of your client, for example, Mrs Vera Jones |
Name of person completing the record | Beth Smith |
Position of person completing the record | Live-in Carer |
Reported to the office
Please ensure you document who was this reported to | Reported to Kelly (coordinator) by phone and submitted an event form attaching a photo of the body map. |
Body Map Notes
As a carer, you have to record any injuries to the Care Recipient including bruises, red marks, open wounds, sores, pressure ulcers & any other areas of visible tissue damage.
It must show that a mark is monitored until it disappears.
Date | Ongoing observations & actions taken (creams applied etc) | Signature |
21.03.24 | While getting up from her chair in the lounge, Mrs Jones tripped on the rug in the middle of the floor, she cushioned her fall with her hands, but she fell on her right side. She was able to stand up after about 10 minutes, after I positioned a chair next to her and she helped herself on the chair to get up. I explained to Mrs Jones that probably a GP should be called and she agreed so I called the surgery and Mrs Jones explained to them what happened – The GP said to take Paracetamol, monitor and call them back if any concerns. I called the office and reported it to Kelly, who advised me to submit an event form for the fall and attached the Body Map on the event form, which I did. Mrs Jones took 2 Paracetamol tablets with water | Beth Smith |
22.03.24 | When I supported Mrs Jones in getting dressed this morning, I observed the bruise on her right leg, just above her knee, on the thigh, was the size of a small egg and it was blue and black in colour. Mrs Jones said it was painful and she took 2 x Paracetamol tablets and asked me to call the GP, which I did. A DN visited around 11am and checked Mrs Jones, but they said there is nothing they can do, to continue to take painkillers and just wait for the bruise to heal. I recorded all the details in my notes on the portal. | Beth Smith |
23.03.24 | This morning, the bruise looked darker in colour, still shades of black and blue and still big. Mrs Jones asked for 2xParacetamol tablets with water | Beth Smith |
24.03.24 | The bruise looks the same, no changes today | Beth Smith |
25.03.24 | The bruise looks still dark but has a bit of yellow around it and seems a bit greenish in colour. |
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| Mrs Jones said it’s still painful on touch and she asked for 1xParacetamol tablet | Beth Simth |
26.03.24 | This morning, when I assisted Mrs Jones to get dressed, I observed the bruise reported is now a bit smaller, yellow and black, seems to be healing. Still painful when touched but Mrs Jones didn’t want to take any painkillers, and said the pain was not that bad anymore. | Beth Simth |
27.03.24 | I arrived today and took over from Beth that explained about the bruise and informed me I must continue to monitor on this form. The bruise now looks smaller, healing nicely, not very painful | Beth Simth |
28.03.24 | The bruise is smaller today, yellow and brown colour, healing well, no pain | Joanne Reed |
29.03.24 | The bruise seems the same, no pain | Joanne Reed |
30.03.24 | The bruise is very small today, mostly dark yellow, seems to be healing very well, no pain | Joanne Reed |
31.03.24 | The area looks fine, the bruise seems to have healed nicely | Joanne Reed |
By following these steps, you can effectively use Body Map Charts to monitor and document the skin health of the care recipient under your care.
Please remember that clear communication and consistent documentation are essential for providing comprehensive care and ensuring the care recipient's wellbeing.
If you have any questions, please contact us.