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Next time you’re lying in bed or sitting in
a chair take note of all the pressure points where your skin touches the
surface of the bed or chair. Now imagine
that you’re in that position for days on end without being able to move. That’s how ulcers or pressure sores
occur.
Ulcers, pressure sores, bed sores all refer
to the same kind of injury to the skin. As
people age, their skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. Breakage can occur by constant rubbing on the
skin surface or a shearing action where one layer of skin is rubbed against
another layer causing a tear or break.
If someone is immobile for an extended
period then caregivers have to be especially vigilant about checking for
sores. Pressure sores typically appear
on the lower back, buttocks, hips, side of knees, ankles, heels, ears (where
oxygen masks go around the ears), elbows, shoulder blades, wrists, groin (due
to incontinence protection) and backs of knees (sitting in wheelchairs). These are by no means the only areas for
pressure sores, merely the most common areas.
If your loved one is unable to move, then
their skin should be checked daily for signs of sores. If there is any pain, leakage, “strawberry”
marks or any sign of infection, medical advice should be sought
immediately. Prevention is much easier
than cure when it comes to ulcers and pressure sores.
These sores can be cured but it takes a
long time, it’s extremely difficult and it will involve a lot of pain for your
loved one. Once your loved one has an
ulcer, they become targets for secondary infections. It is far better to avoid getting a sore than
to treat it.
What can you do to prevent bed sores,
etc.? Avoid using soaps that dry the
skin, avoid excess moisture so incontinence protection needs to be changed
often (don’t use powder when changing the protection as it traps moisture), use
non-restrictive clothing that have had the tags removed, make sure the clothes
don’t have seams that can rub or elastic waistbands, wristbands or anklebands,
change the position of your loved one every couple of hours, make sure that
your loved one is eating well and is well hydrated, monitor any infections or
diseases that your loved one has and check for signs of visible bruising or damage
to the skin.
If in doubt, speak to a medical
professional. Remember: it’s easier to
prevent than to cure pressure sores.
(Cathy Duncan, 2006)
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