What equipment can be used for pressure area care?
Pressure injuries, commonly referred to as pressure ulcers, remain a significant issue for residents, care professionals and care organisations. Because of this, many industry bodies continue to raise awareness and educate teams on the best ways to prevent pressure ulcers through effective pressure area care.
What Are Pressure Ulcers and How Do They Arise?
Pressure ulcers are injuries that occur when the skin over a bony prominence becomes damaged due to prolonged pressure. The individual’s regular position often determines the highest-risk sites.
Several factors can make someone more susceptible to developing pressure ulcers. Some, such as age, weight, skin condition and medication, cannot always be controlled. However, other factors—mobility, pressure, shearing and moisture—can be managed with the right equipment. As a result, the risk of pressure ulcers can be significantly reduced.
Common sites where pressure ulcers develop
How Can We Prevent Pressure Ulcers?
Once you understand what a pressure ulcer is and why it occurs, you can begin to manage its severity or, ideally, prevent it altogether.
A commonly used approach is the aSSKINg framework, developed as part of the NHS England Pressure Ulcer Core Curriculum.. This framework is widely applied in clinical environments, including care homes.
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A – Assess Risk
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S – Skin Assessment and Skincare
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S – Surface
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K – Keep Moving
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I – Incontinence
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N – Nutrition
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G – Giving Information
If you’re not familiar with this framework, you can watch a helpful video from Shropshire Community Health that explains the SSKIN section and highlights key pressure-ulcer prevention messages:
Below, we expand on the Surface and Keep Moving sections to show how pressure-management equipment supports prevention.
If you’re not familiar with this framework, check out the video from Shropshire Community Health. The video helps explain the SSKIN section of the framework and highlights key messages for preventing pressure ulcers: https://youtu.be/Syc-hByVGF0?t=153
We are expanding on the ‘SURFACE’ and ‘KEEP MOVING’ sections of the framework to explain how pressure management equipment can support you.
Surface – In Pressure Area Care
This is where you should consider what equipment you might need to put in place for reducing or relieving pressure for your residents.
The framework helps you to understand the impact of the support surface on skin integrity. As well as identify the range of pressure care equipment and devices available to suit the resident’s level of mobility and risk level.
Current NICE guidance states high specification pressure redistributing devices should be used on those that are vulnerable, at high risk and those who are seated for prolonged periods.
Pressure care or pressure relief mattresses, overlays and cushions are used to aid in preventing the development of pressure ulcers for people considered as being at risk. They work by reducing or redistributing pressure, friction, or shearing forces. Pressure relieving mattresses can have a positive impact on your resident’s experience and outcomes.
There are different types of pressure care mattresses that are used for varying levels of residents’ needs, mobility and risk levels. For example foam mattresses, air mattresses and hybrid mattresses.
Keep Moving – In Pressure Area Care
This step is incredibly crucial in pressure ulcer prevention. It starts with assessing your patient’s mobility and putting in place a repositioning schedule based on your assessment.
Following this section of the framework will help you understand the importance of maintaining mobility and its impact on the resident’s level of independence. Similarly, ensure you identify and safely use a range of appropriate equipment to promote safe transfers. This includes ceiling hoists, mobile hoists and compatible slings, standing hoists and transfer aids, appropriate seating and other mobility aids.
Explore the various moving and handling equipment you can use to keep your residents moving when they need it the most.
Pressure Area Care isn’t just about getting the right equipment; you need to make sure it’s functioning, and you need to make sure staff know how to use it.
If you need any help with the provision, maintenance or use of the pressure care equipment mentioned in this article. Get in touch with our friendly team who can provide help and advice.
