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Pressure Sores

Pressure sores, also known as decubitis ulcers or bed sores, are areas of damaged skin and tissue that develop when sustained pressure (often from a bed or wheelchair) cuts off circulation to vulnerable parts of your body. The skin on your buttocks, hips, and heels is the most likely place that a pressure sore will occur. Without adequate blood flow, the affected tissue dies.When nursing home residents are unable to change their position, serious pessure sores can cause infections, some of which are life-threatening. Poor nutrition, weight loss, diabetes, poor hygiene, and dehydration are additional factors that can contribute to the development of pressure ulcers.

There are four stages of bed sores:

• Stage 1 bedsores are minor and are characterized by redness of the skin.
• Stage 2 bedsores are more serious, and are characterized by blisters or abrasions on the skin.
• Stage 3 bedsores involve damage to the full thickness of the skin.
• Stage 4 bedsores extend into the muscle, tendons, and bone.

Most bed sores can be prevented by regular preventative care, including:

• Keeping skin clean and dry
• Changing position every two hours
• Using pillows and other products to relieve pressure

However, when nursing homes are understaffed, staff members are not trained on proper bed sore prevention procedures, or staff members simply choose to neglect residents, pressure sores can develop. They are very painful and as they progress they become increasingly more difficult to treat. In the most serious cases, bed sores can lead to death.