Pressure ulcers (also called "bed sores" ) are skin wounds caused by pressure from lying or sitting in one position too long. Pressure ulcers most often occur in bony areas such as the heels, elbows, or buttocks. They can be mild or severe. Millions of people get pressure ulcers each year.
Who gets Pressure sores?
Anyone can get a pressure sore whether they are aged 10 or aged 80. But the people who are most at risk are:
- people who have trouble moving and cannot change position themselves
- people who cannot feel pain over part or all of their body
- people who are incontinent
- people who are seriously ill, or have had surgery
- people who have a poor diet and don't drink enough water
- people who are very young or very old
- people who have damaged their spinal cord and can neither move nor feel their bottom and legs
- older people who are ill or have suffered an injury like a broken hip
12 Top Tips for preventing pressure sores
Listed below are some simple ways of preventing pressure sores. If you are a caregiver these tips can help you in the way that you look after your patient. If you are at risk yourself, then these can be used for you to guide the person who cares for you.
Regularly check skin for signs of early damage - for example are there any key areas that are showing a change of color, blisters, swelling or patches of hot or cool skin?
- Make sure you turn and change position regularly so you don't put ongoing pressure on the same bit of skin
- If you are being lifted, make sure proper lifting techniques are being used and that your skin is not being dragged against something
- Make sure your bedding is wrinkle free and that there are no crumbs in the bed
- Eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids
- If you have to sit or lie for long periods of time, make sure you have cushions or mattresses or other equipment to help reduce the risk of damage
- Do not rub or massage the skin
- Keep your skin clean and dry and don't use excessive amounts of skin cream or talcum powder
- Do not use creams or ointments without consulting your doctor
- Use special garments like pads and dressings to protect at risk areas like elbows and knees
- Protect your skin from friction
Here are some ways the Washington DC VA doctors and nurses can help prevent pressure ulcers:
- Find out which patients are at greatest risk for pressure ulcers. This includes people who spend a lot of time in the bed or a chair, or people who do not eat well.
- Each day, look all over a person's body for any skin changes or sores.
- Keep patients as clean and dry as possible. This is needed because soiled or wet skin increases the chance that a person will get pressure ulcers.
- Make sure patients eat a healthy diet and drink enough water.
- Decrease pressure on a person's skin. Remind patients to shift position often when they are sitting or lying down. For patients who cannot move, put them in a new position at least once every two hours.
- If needed, give patients a special mattress that helps prevent pressure ulcers.
How family members can help
Ask the nurses and doctors these questions:
- Is our family member (patient) at risk for pressure ulcers?
- What type of food and how much water should our family member eat and drink?
- What are you doing to decrease pressure on his or her skin?
If you develop a pressure sore while hospitalized you will receive optimal treatment to promote healing from our interdisciplinary skin care team. Follow up care in our Skin Care Clinic with Certified Wound Care Nurse Specialist on Thursday's 10 am -2 pm located in Orange Clinic 1e 381.