Preventing and Caring for Bedsores in an Elderly Parent

Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers, develop when constant pressure on one area of skin cuts off blood flow, most often in parents who spend long stretches sitting or lying in the same position. They're largely preventable with consistent care, and catching them early makes a real difference in how easily they heal.

What Bedsores Are and Who's at Risk

Bedsores typically develop over bony areas, hips, heels, tailbone, elbows, and shoulder blades, where there's less natural cushioning between skin and bone. Parents with limited mobility, those who spend most of the day in bed or a chair, and those managing incontinence, poor nutrition, or thin, fragile skin are at higher risk. The earliest sign is often a patch of skin that's red, discoloured, or warm and doesn't fade with fingertip pressure, worth checking for regularly rather than waiting for a visible sore.

Repositioning: The Single Most Effective Prevention

Changing position at least every two hours for someone who's bedbound, and roughly every hour for someone in a chair, is the single most effective thing you can do. Small shifts matter too, not just full turns, a pillow tucked under one hip or shoulder redistributes pressure meaningfully. Setting a phone reminder helps build the habit until it becomes routine. If your parent can shift their own weight periodically, gently encouraging this throughout the day helps between full repositioning.

Skin Care That Helps

Keep skin clean and dry, moisture from sweat or incontinence softens skin and makes it more vulnerable to breakdown. Check skin daily, especially over bony areas, for redness, warmth, or tenderness. A gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser helps keep skin supple without over-softening it, and a barrier cream is worth using in areas exposed to moisture. Avoid vigorously rubbing or massaging reddened areas, gentle handling matters more than people often assume. If bowel incontinence is part of the picture, extra attention to cleanup and barrier cream matters even more, since that moisture is especially hard on skin.

Supportive Products Worth Considering

A pressure-relieving mattress or cushion, foam, gel, or air-filled, reduces sustained pressure on any single point and is worth considering for a parent who spends significant time in bed or a chair. Soft, breathable bedding and clothing reduce friction against the skin. Positioning wedges and pillows help maintain a repositioned posture without your parent sliding back. Our guide to essential elder care products covers where these fit alongside other home care basics.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor promptly if you notice a break in the skin, an open sore, blistering, or an area that doesn't improve within a day or two of relieving pressure from it, since bedsores can progress quickly and become harder to treat once the skin breaks. A doctor or wound care nurse can also advise on dressing an existing sore correctly, since the wrong approach can slow healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

A comfortable, supportive bed setup goes hand in hand with preventing bedsores, our guide to recliners and adjustable beds for elderly comfort covers positioning options that help with both.