Hospice wound care centers on comfort and quality of life. Pain, odor, and drainage are managed to help your loved one feel at ease. Treatment choices are guided by goals, the type of wound, and what feels realistic for you at home. In malignant or fungating wounds, for example, symptom control around odor, exudate, and bleeding often takes priority.
Common Wound Types you may See
You may hear your team refer to pressure injuries, skin tears, venous or diabetic ulcers, or malignant wounds. Each type of hospice wound care has different needs, especially around padding, moisture control, and dressing choice. If you are unsure which wound your loved one has, ask the nurse to label dressings or leave a simple written plan on the fridge. Our /hospice-care/wound-care/ page describes common wound types we manage every day.
A Caregiver’s Checklist for Day-to-Day Hospice Wound Care
The following caregiver tips support hospice wound care and comfort at home. Your nurse may adjust any step to match your loved one’s needs.
- Positioning and pressure relief. Change position on a regular schedule to reduce pressure on bony areas like heels, hips, and tailbone. Your hospice team will set the exact plan. Many care plans start with about every two hours in bed and about every hour in a chair, then adjust based on tolerance and skin checks. Use pillows or foam wedges to offload heels and keep knees from rubbing.
- Skin inspection. Look at high-risk areas during routine care. Check the back of the head, ears under oxygen tubing, shoulders, sacrum, heels, and skin folds. Early redness that does not fade after relieving pressure needs a nurse check.
- Moisture balance. Keep skin clean and gently dry. Use a barrier cream to protect the skin around wounds from drainage. Replace wet linens or clothing as soon as you notice dampness.
- Gentle cleansing. For most hospice wound care at home, clean with normal saline or clean tap water unless your nurse says otherwise. Avoid harsh solutions that can damage healthy tissue.
- Dressings. Apply the dressing type your nurse supplies and taught you to use. Seal edges smoothly to prevent leaks and rubbing.
- Nutrition and hydration. Offer small, frequent sips and foods your loved one enjoys, as allowed by the care plan. Even modest intake can support skin and energy.
- Pain first. Time dressing changes after prescribed pain medicine when possible. Pause if pain increases and call your nurse for adjustments.
A Simple, Step-by-Step Dressing Change
Follow the plan your nurse demonstrated. This is a general framework for gentle hospice wound care at home.
- Prepare your space. Clear a clean surface. Gather gloves, saline or water, soft gauze, prescribed dressing, barrier cream, and a small trash bag.
- Hand hygiene. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Put on gloves.
- Remove the old dressing. Loosen the tape slowly. If it sticks, moisten the gauze with a little saline to ease removal.
- Look and note. Observe color, drainage amount, and odor. Write down anything new such as sudden redness, swelling, or pain.
- Clean gently. Use saline or clean tap water to irrigate. Pat the surrounding skin dry. Avoid scrubbing. Do not use hydrogen peroxide unless your nurse specifically orders it. It can harm healthy tissue.
- Protect the surrounding skin. Apply a thin layer of barrier cream if directed.
- Apply the new dressing. Place as taught, smoothing edges to prevent leaks and friction.
- Dispose and wash. Tie up the trash bag, remove gloves, and wash your hands again.
Managing Odor, Drainage, Bleeding, and Pain
Hospice wound care often focuses on symptom relief. Your nurse will guide you through options. Here is what families commonly see and how we support you.
- Odor. Odor can feel distressing for everyone. Keep air moving with a small fan, and double-bag used dressings. Your team may use specific dressings or topical treatments that help reduce odor.
- Drainage. Extra-absorbent dressings can control leakage and protect surrounding skin. If dressings are soaked sooner than expected, call your nurse to adjust the plan.
- Bleeding. Some wounds, especially malignant wounds, can bleed easily because tissue is fragile. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze and call your nurse for next steps. If you see heavy or persistent bleeding, call right away.
- Pain. Tell your team if pain increases during or after dressing changes. Timing medicine, using non-stick dressings, and minimizing friction can help. Your nurse or prescriber can adjust medicines to keep hospice wound care comfortable.
When to call the nurse urgently
Call your hospice nurse for any of the following during hospice wound care at home. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out.
- Rapidly worsening redness, warmth, swelling, or fever
- New or strong odor that appears suddenly
- Significantly more pain than usual
- A dressing soaked with blood or bleeding that will not stop with gentle pressure
- Black, spreading, or rapidly changing tissue appearance
Our team is on call for Austin families day and night. You can always call (737) 240-3003.
Positioning that Protects Fragile Skin
Good positioning is a big part of hospice wound care. Your nurse may recommend a slight side-lying posture with pillows behind the back, between the knees, and offloading under the calves so heels float above the bed. The goal is small, frequent weight shifts that the person can tolerate. Frequency is individualized to the person, the surface, and how the skin looks during checks.
Supplies Most Families Find Helpful
Your hospice team typically provides the essential wound care supplies your plan requires. Many caregivers also keep these items on hand:
- Clean gloves and hand sanitizer
- Normal saline or a nurse-approved cleanser
- Non-stick gauze, absorbent pads, paper tape
- Skin barrier ointment or cream for the periwound
- Soft washcloths and small trash bags
- Foam wedges or extra pillows for positioning
- A simple notepad for tracking changes and questions
If you are unsure what you need, ask your nurse for a written supply list. A wound, ostomy, and continence nurse may also be involved to fine-tune complex plans.
Your Role, Dignity, and Communication
Wound care can feel intimate. Ask for consent each time, explain what you will do, and offer choices. Keep a calm pace. If a task feels overwhelming, call us. Your hospice team can schedule a visit, change the plan, or show you another method that fits your routine.
Quick FAQ
- Can my loved one shower with a wound?
- Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the wound and dressing. Your nurse will let you know when brief showering is safe and how to protect the site.
- How often should I turn to my loved one?
- Repositioning schedules are personalized. A common starting point is about every two hours in bed, adjusted based on comfort, the mattress surface, and skin checks. Your nurse will confirm the best plan for hospice wound care at home.
- Should I use hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound?
- No, unless your nurse prescribes it for a specific reason. Peroxide can damage healthy tissue. Saline or clean tap water is usually preferred for routine cleansing in home hospice wound care.
Need Hands-on Help with Hospice Wound Care?
If you live in Austin, Travis County, or nearby communities, our nurses can guide you step by step. Call (737) 240-3003 or reach us through contact. You can also read what to expect and how to start hospice care to learn how visits and supplies work.