In long term care facilities, people who are bedridden or immobilized in wheelchairs may suffer from pressure ulcers (bed sores), which may develop as a result of reduced blood flow to an area, and can cause cells to die, skin to break down, and a painful wound. Under some circumstances, pressure ulcers can occur in as short a time as 2 to 6 hours. If the conditions that lead to pressure ulcers are not corrected, muscles, tendons, and bones may ultimately be affected and patients may experience pain, infection, and disability.

Appropriate care, including the periodic turning of immobile nursing home residents, can reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. However, some pressure ulcers are unavoidable and can be a direct result of a resident's severe illness. Preventing and reducing pressure ulcers is an HHC priority. In addition to assisted turning, good nutrition and attentive skin care can help reduce, if not eliminate, pressure ulcers for many residents.

Pressure Ulcers Among High-Risk Patients in Nursing Homes
January 2013 - December 2013

Facility-Specific Data

Note: Percent of high-risk, long stay residents in a nursing home with pressure ulcers.
Data Source: Equip for Quality (NYAHSA), based on the CMS Quality Measures.