How To Care: Pressure Sores
Risk factors
for pressure sores
- age
- immobility
- incontinence
- malnutrition and dehydration
- diseases and disorders that slow healing or lessen mental awareness
- diseases and disorders such as confusion or dementia that lessen
mental awareness and may prevent a person from feeling the discomfort
of a harmful body position
- medications, particularly sedatives
Things to look
for
Warning signs of pressure sores
- discoloured, torn or swollen skin, especially over bony areas
- signs of infection — skin warmth, swelling, odour, pus