Wound care and infection control in aged care

Why wounds need extra care

Older skin is thin and slow to heal. Pressure injuries, skin tears, leg ulcers and surgical wounds are all common in aged care, and any break in the skin is a way in for germs.

Who does what

Wound assessment and dressing plans are usually the job of nurses. Personal care workers may be asked to help with simple dressings, or to protect a dressing during showering. Only do what your role and training allow, and follow the resident's wound care plan.

Clean technique, step by step

1. Clean your hands and gather everything you need before you start.
2. Clean the trolley or work surface and set out supplies without touching their sterile parts.
3. Clean your hands again and put on gloves (and an apron if your clothes could touch the wound or bed).
4. Remove the old dressing, bag it, then take off those gloves and clean your hands.
5. Put on fresh gloves for the clean dressing, following the care plan.
6. Dispose of waste as your service directs, remove PPE and clean your hands.

Habits that prevent wound infections

• Use single-resident products — don't share creams, tapes or scissors between residents.
• Keep dressings clean and dry, and report any that have lifted or are soaked.
• Reposition residents as their care plan says to protect pressure areas.
• Handle skin gently during transfers to avoid skin tears.

Signs of infection to report

Report increasing redness, swelling, heat or pain, new pus or a bad smell, a wound that is getting bigger, or a resident who becomes feverish or newly confused. Early reporting lets the nurse or doctor act before the infection spreads.