• What is causing the pressure sores to develop?
• Is mobility a problem? Incontinence? Diet? Disease? Or medication?
• What can be done to relieve the sources of pressure, friction or moisture?
• What strategies and techniques can be used to prevent or lessen skin breakdown?
• What professional and community services are available to assist with personal and nursing care?

Steps to Take

• Know the warning signs of pressure sores and the four stages of severity of pressure sores.
• Learn how to prevent pressure sores and how to treat them.
• Alert a doctor or nurse to any sores that are getting larger, not healing, or showing signs of infection.
• Arrange for a risk assessment by a family physician, nurse or specialist.

Risk assessment

• general health
• nutritional status
• mobility
• incontinence
• illness
• medications
• level of consciousness
• past history of pressure sores
• Discuss treatment options with the physician, nurse or specialist.
• Contact health professionals who can assist with specific situations:
  • mobility problems: physiotherapist or occupational therapist
  • nutritional advice: dietitian
  • Incontinence: urologist
  • alternative medications: pharmacist
• Contact community agencies that can provide assistance with care at home.
• Learn at-home coping strategies to prevent, manage and treat pressure sores. 
• Learn about helpful products and devices for pressure sores.

At-home Coping Strategies

• Be meticulous about skin care. Examine skin daily for signs of sores.
• Protect vulnerable areas from pressure, friction and moisture.
• Ask a health professional how to clean, dress and bandage pressure sores properly.
• Alert a doctor or nurse immediately, if you notice signs of infection.
• Assist healing by ensuring proper nutrition.
• Discover helpful products to relieve and treat pressure sores.
• Encourage a balanced diet with extra protein to keep tissues healthy.

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Wound management

• Clean the pressure sore by irrigating the wound with a saline solution (available from drug stores) or other cleaning solution recommended by a health care professional.
• Remove all dead tissue and scabs. A health professional can recommend the best approach, depending on the severity of the pressure sore.
• Pat the wound dry.
• Bandage the wound with a dressing that keeps the pressure sore moist while keeping surrounding tissues dry.

	Clean skin with warm water and minimal friction. Apply lotion often.
	Avoid direct pressure to bony areas such as ankles and hips.
	Use pillows and padded protectors to support arms, legs and vulnerable areas.
	Change the position of a bed-bound person every two hours. Handle and move carefully to avoid skin tears and scrapes.
	Change the position of a chair-bound person hourly.
	Discourage the bed-bound or chair-bound person from sitting with the head elevated more than 30 degrees, except for short periods of time.
	Check and change bed linens as often as necessary
	Use continence management products if necessary to reduce exposure to moisture.
	Padded supports, such as doughnut cushions may, themselves, become a source of pressure.
	Do not massage bony areas of the body.
	Do not massage pressure sores.
	Do not use remedies such as iodine, peroxide and cornstarch that may further irritate the skin.

Helpful Products

Helpful products for pressure sores can be purchased from hospitals, pharmacies, medical equipment and supply stores and catalogues.

Lotions, moisturizers

• special lotions for pressure sores