Caregiving · 5 min read
Preventing bed sores: the two-hour rule and what else matters
Pressure ulcers are almost entirely preventable, and almost always a sign that repositioning slipped. A practical guide for families.
Paras Homecare ·
A pressure ulcer can develop in a matter of hours and take months to heal. For a bed-bound patient at home, prevention is not complicated — but it does have to be relentless.
Reposition every two hours
Left side, back, right side, on a rotation, day and night. Set an alarm. The overnight hours are when repositioning slips and when most sores begin.
Use an alternating-pressure mattress
For any patient who cannot shift their own weight, this is not an optional extra. The pump inflates and deflates alternate cells so no area of skin bears load continuously. Relative to the cost of treating an established sore, it is the cheapest insurance available.
Check the pressure points daily
- Sacrum and tailbone — by far the most common site.
- Heels — check both, every day, including the back of the ankle.
- Hips, shoulder blades, elbows and the back of the head.
- Under any tube, mask strap or catheter line resting on skin.
Redness that does not fade within twenty minutes of relieving pressure is stage one. Act at that point — increase turning, offload the area completely, and call a nurse. Do not wait to see whether it improves on its own.
Keep skin dry and nutrition up
Moisture from sweat or incontinence softens skin and accelerates breakdown. Protein and hydration matter more than most families realise — a patient who is not eating will not heal a sore no matter how good the turning schedule is.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the advice of the patient's doctor.
