Care home receives second award for pressure ulcer prevention

A care home in Coventry has received an accreditation for the second year running for its work in preventing painful pressure ulcers and looking after residents’ skin.

Arden Park, a residential care home owned by Redwood Care Homes Ltd, has been awarded the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Tissue Viability Accreditation for maintaining their high standards and reducing the risks of skin related problems for residents.

Arden Park's manager, Debbie Hambridge, said: "We are over the moon that for the second year in-a-row we have received this important accreditation. It’s testament to our team for maintaining their high standards.

"The training and daily checks means our staff are fully aware of the risks of pressure ulcers and how quickly skin conditions can change. It is all about preventing them occurring and reducing the risks to our residents, so they can enjoy life without discomfort."

The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust launched the ‘React to Red Skin’ campaign in 2013.

The campaign was initially aimed at patients, families and carers. However, formal carers in nursing and residential homes are now receiving ongoing training to improve their awareness of pressure ulcers and how to prevent them.

A key part of Arden Park’s success has been down to care staff completing daily skin checks, the introduction of skin integrity care plans, and advice on nutritional diets.

It means staff at the 31-resident care home can continue to relieve and prevent pressure ulcers and advise residents’ families on the appropriate measures to take.

According to the NHS, pressure ulcers are an injury that breaks down the skin and underlying tissue, and are caused when an area of skin is placed under pressure.

Pressure ulcers tend to affect people with health conditions that make it difficult to move, especially those confined to lying in a bed or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Around half a million people will develop at least one pressure ulcer in a given time. This is usually people with an underlying health condition - for example, around one in twenty people who are admitted to hospital with a sudden illness will develop an ulcer.

People over 70-years-old are also particularly vulnerable to pressure ulcers as they are more likely to have mobility problems and ageing skin.

Specialists from University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Tissue Viability Accreditation department visit care homes up to three times each year to conduct an annual assessment and ensure compliance with standards are being met.

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