Pain points: Pressure injuries on the rise among seniors

Skin and tissue injuries happen when a person stays in one position for too long

- Amrita Kaur

Mr Frederick Bakar had been living in a nursing home for years without major health issues. But in February, he developed a severe pressure injury on his left hip that required hospital admission.

The former army staff sergeant has been paralysed from the chest down since an accident 30 years ago. As a result, the 78-year-old developed a pressure injury that became worse over time. It emitted a foul odour and made him feel sick.

"It started as a small patch of damaged skin and progressed into a necrotic sore, leaking fluids," says Mr Jason Er, a nurse clinician at Alexandra Hospital (AH), who treated Mr Bakar in a ward.

Pressure injuries — commonly referred to as pressure sores, pressure ulcers or bedsores — are skin and tissue injuries that happen when a person stays in one position for too long. It usually occurs over bony areas such as the tailbone, heels, hips and ankles.

A pressure injury usually starts off with some redness on the skin, and may present as red or maroon patches. If left untreated, it can progress rapidly, developing into a severe ulcer reaching the muscle, bone or joints within 24 to 48 hours, says Mr Er, who specialises in wound care.

Pressure injuries can be extremely painful, with the severity increasing as they advance through different stages.

Ms Fazila Aloweni, senior nurse manager at Singapore General Hospital's (SGH) department of nursing division (research), says early-stage injuries may cause mild discomfort, while advanced stages can hurt significantly due to tissue damage, inflammation and potential infection.

Pressure injuries mostly affect people with limited mobility, such as those who are bedridden or use wheelchairs. Older adults are at risk due to factors such as reduced movement, fragile skin, poor nutrition, and chronic conditions like diabetes.