If you are placed with a client who is bed bound you may find that they are being treated for bed sores. These can happen when a person is not mobile, confined to bed, unconscious, or unable to feel pain.

Bedsores are also called pressure injuries, pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. They are all the same thing, namely an ulcer which has occurred on an area of skin which is under pressure.

What causes them?

Bedsores happen when the blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than 3 hours. First the skin will die and then as it dies the sore spot turns red and painful. Eventually it will turn purple, break open and possibly become infected.

The reason that bedsores are such a problem is that they can become very deep, even extending into the bone and muscle, and as every district nurse will tell you, once they have developed it is very difficult to heal them.

Depending on the severity, bedsores can take anywhere from a few days to several months, and occasionally years to completely heal.

You may find bedsores on:

• The tailbone or hips
• Heels
• Shoulder blades
• Back of the knees
• Sides of the knees
• Back of the head

What should we do if we find one?

If you notice that your client is developing a red area on any place where there is pressure you should call the district nurse right away.

Do not be tempted to resort to OTC medication or trying any home remedies as these may simply make the healing process longer.

Your healthcare provider will diagnose the bedsore and advise you on the best way to handle it.

How are they treated?

Treatment may include:

• Removing pressure on the area
• Protecting the sore with medicated gauze
• Keeping the area clean

In extreme cases your healthcare provider may:

• Use a technique called debridement, which is to remove the infected or dead tissue
• Recommend a skin graft to treat the open wound
• Prescribe medications such as antibiotics to treat any infections

Final thoughts

Bedsores are not something that the live-in carer should try to diagnose and treat, this is best left to a professional who will know the exact degree of damage and how to treat it. 

Often a district nurse will visit your client daily to change the dressing and monitor the healing process. It is a lengthy process and if possible, one that should be avoided at all costs by regularly moving your client and reducing pressure on an area.

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