Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment: Your Guide to Pressure Sores

Spending increased time at home during lockdown has been difficult for everyone. However, for elderly people, especially those with mobility issues, there are several additional challenges. One of these challenges is the risk of pressure sores from lack of movement. 

Pressure sores are common for anyone who spends many hours in one position. They especially affect people who are bedridden or spend significant parts of their day in a wheelchair. 

As these sores can form in less than a week, carers or family members should keep an eye out for them in their loved ones who might be considered a higher risk for these infections.

Causes of Pressure Sores in the Elderly

When someone spends lots of time in one position and skin is compressed between two relatively hard surfaces such as bone and a bed, there is a chance of bed sores developing. 

Also called pressure sores, these result from prolonged pressure on the skin which limits blood flow and are common near places such as hips, heels, ankles, and tailbones. 

Some other common causes of pressure sores in elderly patients are:

• Circulation disorders: These by their nature lead to reduced blood flow which increases the risk of bedsores.
• Smoking: Similar to circulation disorders, smoking reduces blood flow to the skin. For people who have limited movement, this can lead to bedsores. Additionally, for smokers, pressure sores often take longer to heal.
• Friction: This cause of bedsores is where two surfaces (such as skin and sheets or a chair) move in opposite directions constantly rubbing against each other.
• Pressure: When pressure is applied to an individual body part, there is a decrease in blood flow in that area. Blood flow to all parts of the body is important because it delivers oxygen and other essential nutrients to different parts of our bodies. Taking away that blood flow can damage skin and tissue. 

Pressure Sores Warning Signs and Symptoms

Knowing the warning signs for pressures sores is very important because these sores can develop very quickly. 

It is important to look out for changes in how the skin looks or feels. Specifically, if the skin turns blue or purple then there might be cause for concern. Similarly, if the skin feels too warm, it can be a symptom of inflammation. If it feels too cool, there may not be enough blood flowing to that area.

Lack of feeling or strange sensations can also indicate that a bedsore is brewing. Feelings such as itching, pain, tingling, burning or numbness can be warning signs of pressure sores in elderly patients. For individuals with spinal cord injuries or other conditions that result in a decrease or loss of feeling, these warning signs may go unnoticed which may cause pressure sores to get worse. 

Once pressure sores develop, they appear above the skin with redness and swelling and can be tender when touched. While they can generally be treated, if they are not treated, they can become worse. Or, they can even turn cancerous or cause sepsis which can be extremely dangerous. Pressure sores can also cause permanent damage to muscles or nerves if not treated quickly and properly. 

Prevention

As with any medical condition, prevention is superior to treatment. In this case, there are easy steps that can minimize the risk of these painful sores developing and worsening. 

The most important step is to encourage your loved one to reposition as often as possible, even every 15 minutes. If they are immobile, a family member or carer can help them minimize the amount of time they are sitting or lying in the same position. Even shifting weight so that the same pressure points are not bearing the brunt of the weight is important. 

Secondly, keeping your loved one’s skin clean and moisturised can help prevent bedsores. This includes keeping the skin clean and dry from sweat or urine and moisturising if possible. 

Thirdly, purchasing a pressure-relieving mattress or pressure-relieving cushion or overlay can be helpful. This is especially true for people who have trouble adjusting positions themselves. Increasing their comfort and decreasing the pressure on some of the high-risk areas of their body will decrease their risk. 

Some products that we recommend for this include mattress overlays, wheelchair pads, and foot pillows. All of these products provide extra cushioning in different parts of the body that are considered a higher risk for developing pressure sores.  

If your loved one spends lots of time in bed and is relatively immobile, you might also consider a Volker Health Care Bed. In addition to a number of safety and comfort features, these beds have a torsion-sprung surface that helps to prevent pressure sores.