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As seen in the March issue of Retail Pharmacy magazine. PATIENTS FEELING THE PRESSURE IBy Peter Howard. n the midst of a pandemic, faced with the terrifying threat of an infection that can be fatal, many of Australia’s elderly are rejecting traditional aged care solutions and opting to be cared for at home. In September, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard the current pandemic was likely to reposition home care in Australia’s aged care system, a view supported by Peter Gray QC, who, in his opening statement to the Royal Commission, said: “Covid is likely to reinforce people’s preference to age in place at home and do all they can to avoid admission to residential care.” Not to be taken lightly Among the challenges facing those in aged care ... is the risk of pressure injuries, the condition previously known as bedsores, or pressure ulcers. Retail Pharmacy spoke to Professor Keryln Carville, Professor of Primary Health Care and Community Nursing at Silver Chain Group and Perth’s Curtin University, to gain more understanding of this common and potentially serious condition. “Pressure injuries are defined as localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure, shear, friction or a combination of these factors, and usually occur over a bony prominence but may also be related to a medical device or other object,” she said. “Pressure injuries aren’t restricted to hospitals but occur across all health settings. They’re found in the community, in aged care and in independent living, and when found in the community, pressure injuries are usually related to immobility or inactivity. “We need to be aware pressure injuries aren’t inconsequential wounds but something to be taken seriously. With Superman actor Christopher Reeve, immobility due to a spinal injury led to a pressure injury that caused sepsis and his eventual death.” Prevention better than cure Professor Carville says that when a patient or carer presents in the pharmacy seeking relief for a pressure injury, they typically will ask for something soft to relieve pressure on the affected area but seeking softer support surfaces isn’t the correct way to approach the problem. “The first question to ask is, ‘Do you/ they have any sore spots on the skin?’,” she said. “Find out if the patient can move independently, too, because those that can’t move independently are high risk. With more serious wounds, it can be difficult to select an appropriate dressing. This is something recognised by wound care supplier Smith and Nephew, whose Pharmacy Channel Manager ANZ Bradley Miller spoke with Retail Pharmacy regarding the latest resources to support those treating wounds in community pharmacy. “We were looking at a way to help pharmacists when customers come into the store with an injury.” he said. According to Mr Miller, after having that consultation with a healthcare professional, such as a GP, a trained wound clinician or pharmacist, and assuming that professional is comfortable with the patient or carer self-managing chronic wounds under their guidance, a lot of people are choosing to stay out of aged care facilities and engage less external help, which limits the risk of unnecessary exposure to Covid. Enabling patient independence at this crucial time in our healthcare journey is to be encouraged, and it’s good to see innovations appearing in the wound care category supporting that goal. To read the full feature as it appears in the March issue of Retail Pharmacy magazine, visit: retailpharmacymagazine.com.au/magazine RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2021 AS SEEN IN RETAIL PHARMACY 39