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Signs and RisksPressure PointsKeeping Skin HealthyCaregiver SupportMore Care Tips

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Protecting the Skin from Breakdown

Your skin is your immune system’s first line of defense against infection. Protecting skin from injury or breakdown is very important to your well-being.

When you are very ill, staying in the same position for much of the day can put extra pressure on small areas of skin. Your risk of skin tears or breakdown is higher if it is difficult for you to turn over or change position, especially if that is due to weakness or pain.

Watch daily for signs of skin breakdown:

  • Areas that are reddened or darker than surrounding skin, but do not fade
  • Open areas or blisters on the skin
  • A worsening of any open area of skin, such as redness/darkening, drainage, odor or warmth
 

Taking Pressure off Vulnerable Points

When skin is in contact with a bed for long periods of time, the pressure can tear fragile skin. Here are ways to prevent pressure sores:

  • Use pillows to protect skin against long periods of pressure on “bony prominences.”  For example, put pillows between ankles and knees, behind your back, under elbows or under calves to raise heels off the bed (see the diagram below for other sensitive points).

illustration of a body lying horizontally with skin pressure points labled

 

  • Change position at least every two hours while in bed and every hour if sitting up in a chair.
  • Keep the angle of the head of your bed lower than 30 degrees when you are not eating or drinking (the graphic below shows the head of the bed at about 30 degrees from horizontal).

illustration of a person lying on bed with the head of the bed raised 30 degrees

 

A tip for Agrace Hospice Care patients: Ask your care team to show you the best techniques to prevent skin breakdown for your specific situation. This can vary from person to person.

 

What can help keep your skin healthy?

  • Wash your skin with warm water and mild soap.
  • Avoid friction or rubbing from clothes or bedding.
  • Do not massage reddened/darkened areas.
  • Use alcohol-free lotions to moisturize dry skin.
  • Clean your skin after each soiling.
  • Apply moisture barrier creams or ointments to fragile skin that comes in contact with moisture, such as skin under incontinence briefs, which tend to trap moisture close to the skin.

A tip for Agrace Hospice Care patients: Ask your care team to show you a special “slide sheet” that can reduce friction on your skin as you are being boosted up in bed.

 

Hospice Caregiver Support for Skin Concerns

If an Agrace Hospice Care patient has skin breakdown, redness or pain, please call Agrace. Our Triage nurses can offer suggestions or contact your care team for you.

If you have a non-urgent caregiving question, email us directly at caregiversupport@agrace.org, or send your questions through our online contact form.

Call (800) 553-4289

Call to talk to an interpreter / Tenemos intérpretes disponibles: (800) 930-2770

 

More Care Tips for Families

For more expert advice from Agrace, visit Agrace.org/CareTips.