How Do You Prevent Pressure Ulcers In The Elderly?
One complication of decreased activity in the elderly is the development of pressure areas. Preventing these ulcers is the best defense, because once they develop, these types of ulcer are very difficult to treat and heal. One complication of aging is the development of pressure ulcers in the elderly. These types of ulcer are also known as “decubitus ulcers” or “bedsores”. Pressure sores are the result of areas of skin and tissue receiving reduced amounts of blood flow and oxygenation due to the application of pressure on that particular body area. Areas most at risk for pressure ulcer development include any area over a bony prominence and areas that are exposed to bodily fluids for long time periods. Examples include the sacrum, coccyx, elbows, heels, ankles, back of the head and others. Preventing the development of pressure ulcers is the best treatment, since once developed, these ulcers become very resistant to treatment. Healing a decubitus ulcer is a costly and complicated proce
