Insights

This is the reality I see in aged care. When a pressure injury occurs, we become very good at reacting. The wound nurse is involved, the mattress is upgraded, pressure care increases and the whole team focuses on healing the wound. But what happened before the wound appeared? In a busy care environment, frontline workers are balancing showers, toileting, transfers, meals and activities. A standard wheelchair intended only as a transfer aid can gradually become the resident's

International evidence shows wide variation in pressure injury prevalence across long-term care settings. These figures reflect not only resident complexity, but also differences in assessment, documentation and care practices. The key lesson for aged care is to look beyond prevalence and strengthen systems that recognize changing risk early—before skin damage occurs.