Care of pressure sores in the elderly

Most pressure sores in the elderly are caused by long-term pressure on the local tissues of the body due to prolonged maintenance of a body position, resulting in ischemia, hypoxia, or malnutrition. For such patients, they should turn over regularly, usually once every 1-2 hours. They can also use air mattresses, i.e., inflatable mattresses, to improve local blood circulation, locally relieve tissue pressure, and improve pressure sores in patients. In addition, small pillows and suction pillows can be used to pad the pressure areas, such as the heel of the foot, which may not normally be noticed, and pressure sores may also occur when it is placed against the bottom of the bed for a long period of time, so a small pillow needs to be placed on the bottom of the foot. Including in the lateral position, small soft pillows may be needed between the two knees to avoid pressure sores caused by mutual pressure between protruding bone surfaces. The buttocks and back, including the elbows, are areas with a high incidence of pressure sores. For areas prone to pressure, it is important to change position or put a pillow on them in a timely manner, or to elevate the head of the bed by 15-30 degrees to ensure that the local tissues are not under long-term pressure, and to avoid semi-recumbency as much as possible. Patients with pressure sores, including those who are bedridden for a long time, should increase their nutritional intake. Only by ensuring adequate nutritional intake and energy supply can the tissues heal quickly and avoid decubitus ulcers when local injuries occur.