Fact: Pressure sores are associated with a 2 - 4 fold increase in the risk of death in older people in intensive care units *

How to treat a pressure sore

Getting the right help
Ask the Right Questions

Getting the right help

If you think you have a pressure sore you should contact your doctor immediately as proper medical care is needed to make sure it heals as quickly as possible.

You must make sure that once you have a pressure sore you do not continue to lie or sit on it in a way that may cause more pressure and make the injury worse

Once you have notified your doctor or nurse they will look at your sore at least once a week. At first they will determine how severe the sore it is. The level of infection can often be determined by how deep it looks, or how bad it smells.

Firstly they should advise you on how to avoid getting more pressure sores and how to make sure this one doesn’t get any worse.

Next the wound should be dressed by the nurse. The dressing used should:

  1. encourage healing
  2. keep the wound warm and moist
  3. prevent infection
  4. be easy and painless to put on and to remove
  5. clean easily if it gets dirty

There are many different types of dressing available and you should always ask your doctor or nurse to explain what they are putting on your wound.

back to top

Ask the Right Questions

Here is a list of questions you should ask your doctor or nurse if you get a pressure sore (whether you are at home, in hospital or in a nursing home)

* Bennett, G. Dealey, C. & Posnett, J. (2004) the cost of pressure ulcers in the UK. Age and ageing, 33p230-235

back to top