Pressure injuries & bed sores
Pressure sores from sitting or lying in one position.
Also called bed sores or pressure ulcers, these form when constant pressure cuts off blood flow to the skin — usually over the tailbone, hips, heels, or back. They can develop fast in someone with limited mobility, and they’re very treatable when caught early.
When someone can’t shift their weight easily — after surgery, with advanced illness, or with limited mobility — the skin over bony areas takes the brunt of the pressure. It starts as a reddened or darkened patch and, if pressure continues, opens into a wound. For families caring for a loved one at home, these can be frightening and feel like they appeared overnight.
Our clinicians treat the wound and tackle the cause: relieving pressure, protecting fragile skin, managing moisture, and supporting nutrition. We also coach family caregivers and facility staff so the same spot doesn’t keep breaking down.
What to watch for
- Skin that stays red, purple, or darkened and doesn’t fade when pressure is off
- A blister, shallow open sore, or deeper wound over a bony area
- Tailbone, hips, heels, shoulder blades, or the back of the head
- Skin that feels firmer, softer, warmer, or cooler than nearby skin
- Any open area on someone who spends most of the day in bed or a chair
What care looks like
How we help this heal.
We assess
A clinician stages and measures the wound and checks the skin everywhere pressure builds up.
We treat
We clean and dress the wound, remove dead tissue when appropriate, and watch for infection.
We coordinate
We put a pressure-relief plan in place — repositioning, cushioning, heel protection — and show caregivers exactly how to do it.
We follow through
We coordinate with facility staff or home health so the plan holds between our visits.
Related wounds we treat
We handle these too.
Diabetic foot ulcers
Foot sores in people with diabetes — treated early, before they become serious.
Learn moreVenous leg ulcers
Weepy ankle and lower-leg wounds with swelling — healed with proper compression.
Learn moreArterial & mixed wounds
Slow-healing wounds from limited blood flow — assessed with the right specialists.
Learn more
Where we visit
Care across the Illinois Metro East.
We’re built for the Illinois side of the river — every county and town below has its own page so you can see exactly how we help where you live. Pick your county or your town to get started.
We’re ready when you are
Have a wound that needs attention?
Call 314-325-0126 or request care. Tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you find the right next step.