People at risk

Pressure ulcers can happen in any area of the body but are most common in areas where the bones are close to the surface - the buttocks, base of the beck, shoulder blades, back of the head and the heels.

Anyone who must stay in a bed, chair or wheelchair because of the illness or injury or who cannot change position without help (e.g. after a fall) is at high risk of developing pressure sores.

Older people are particularly vulnerable because their skin usually becomes thinner and more fragile with age. People with a reduced body sensation as a result of, for example, diabetes or a stroke are also at a higher risk of developing pressure sores.