Pressure sore care in Clwyd nursing homes

A study of 2 245 people resident in 95 nursing homes (general elderly and elderly mentally ill) was carried out to look at the prevalence of pressure sores and the percentage of sores which had developed in the homes or had been present on admission. The study also examined the quality of pressure area care provided by the nursing homes, indicated by the use of risk assessment scales, the availability of pressure-relieving equipment and the training undertaken by both trained and untrained staff. The prevalence was found to be 7.5% and sores were concentrated in the hip, buttock and sacral areas. Fifty-seven per cent of patients' ulcers had developed in the homes and 3 2% occurred following admission to hospital. Seventy-seven homes reported training of some type. There was a range of equipment available and various assessment scales were in use. The prevalence and site of the ulcers were similar to those found in hospital studies and were in line with the Department of Health's estimate of national prevalence (6.7%) K The number of ulcers which had developed in the homes, however, does show that more preventive measures could be taken in nursing homes.