This guide is general information for families, not medical advice. Where the patient’s doctor or nurse has given a care plan, follow that plan.
Key facts
- NICE advises adults at risk of pressure ulcers to change position at least every 6 hours, and at least every 4 hours if they are at high risk.
- Check the skin over the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone every day. The NHS notes that on darker skin, early damage may look purple or blue rather than red.
- A pressure-relieving mattress or cushion helps only alongside regular changes of position, not instead of them.
- A hot, swollen sore, pus, fever or worsening pain can mean infection and needs a doctor urgently.
What does bed sore mean in Urdu?
Families may describe a bed sore as بستر کا زخم (bistar ka zakhm) or دباؤ کا زخم (dabao ka zakhm). These names refer to a pressure ulcer, rather than every kind of wound.
Who is most at risk
- Someone who cannot move or change position easily, for example after a stroke, an operation or a fall, or with a serious illness
- Older people, and people who are very thin or not eating well
- People who cannot feel pain in part of the body, or who have poor circulation, for example from diabetes
- People with incontinence, because skin that stays damp breaks down more easily
Where bedsores form
Over the bony parts of the body that press on the bed or chair: the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone, and the back of the head, the shoulder blades and the buttocks.
Early signs to look for every day
Check the skin over these areas every day, ideally when you wash the patient or change their clothes. Look for:
- A patch of skin that stays discoloured and does not change colour when you press it gently. On darker skin it may look purple, blue or darker rather than red.
- A patch that feels warm, spongy or hard
- Pain or itching in one spot
- A blister or a break in the skin, which means the damage has already started
Tell the patient’s doctor or nurse about any of these early so they can assess the skin and advise care before the damage gets worse.
Bedsore prevention at home
Change position often
Pressure in one place is what causes the damage, so help the patient change position often. NICE advises adults at risk to change position at least every 6 hours, and at least every 4 hours if they are at high risk; the doctor or nurse may advise more often. If the patient cannot move alone, turn them gently between the back and each side, and lift rather than drag them, because dragging damages the skin. Pillows between the knees and under the calves keep bony areas from pressing together or on the bed.
Use a pressure-relieving mattress or cushion
Special mattresses and cushions, such as an air mattress, spread the patient’s weight. Ask the doctor or nurse which type suits the patient. The family buys or rents it, and it helps only alongside regular changes of position, not instead of them.
Keep the skin clean and dry
Wash with mild soap and water, pat the skin dry rather than rubbing it, and change wet clothes, diapers, pads and sheets promptly. Keep sheets smooth, without creases or crumbs.
Food, fluids and movement
A healthy, balanced diet with enough fluids helps the skin stay strong and heal. Encourage any movement the patient can safely manage, even small movements in bed or sitting up for meals.
A bedsore care plan for an older or bedridden person
Ask the doctor or nurse for a written plan based on the patient’s skin, mobility and other health conditions. It should explain how often to change position, what pressure-relieving equipment to use, what changes to report and who to contact. Record skin changes and the care given so the next family member or nurse can follow the same plan.
Can bed sores be treated at home?
A suspected pressure ulcer needs assessment by a doctor or nurse. Treatment depends on its severity; some patients need hospital care. Home care may include pressure relief and dressings selected by the care team. An open sore is not managed by prevention alone. Follow the prescribed treatment plan and seek urgent help for the warning signs below.
When to get help straight away
Contact a doctor urgently if the skin around a sore becomes hot, swollen or red, there is pus coming from it, the patient has a fever, or the pain gets much worse. These can be signs of infection. If the patient is very unwell, confused or hard to wake, call Rescue 1122.
How a nurse can help
On a bed sore prevention visit, a Registered Nurse checks the skin over the pressure areas, looks for early redness or damage, helps reposition the patient according to the care plan and records any change. Bedridden patient care adds a bed bath, mouth care, continence care and a change of sheets. An open or infected sore needs a doctor’s assessment, and wound dressing in the app needs a doctor’s order. Nurse at Home is preparing to launch and is not taking bookings yet.