The interdisciplinary team, usually consisting of the physician, nurses, a dietitian, and rehabilitation specialists, should be involved in teaching the prevention and management of skin breakdown to high-risk patients and their caregivers. This instruction may occur in the acute or long-term care setting or in the patient's home. Caregivers should be taught how to turn and position bedbound patients every 2 hours, aided by the use of either a written turning schedule developed for the patient or a kitchen timer. Caregivers should also be shown how to support the patient using pillows and foam pads. Caregivers, and sometimes even patients, can be taught how to clean and dress pressure sores.
Clean technique is preferable for patients being cared for in the home setting.
Caregivers can be taught how to remove and properly dispose of soiled dressings by placing a disposable plastic bag over the hand, removing the dressing, and inverting the bag for disposal. Saline solution, which is used to clean and irrigate the wound, may be purchased at a drug store or made at home. Cleaning and irrigating the wound should be demonstrated by a health care provider. The patient's physician or nurse recommends the type of dressing to be used for the patient based on the stage of the sore, the ease of use, and cost. Caregivers should also be taught to recognize and report signs and symptoms of infection.