This study examines several residents with wounds and use of soft silicone technology to provide a moist wound environment without macerating the peri wound skin. 

Case 1
90 year old female admitted from home on hospice for failure to thrive, non responsive, CVA, dementia, hemoglobin 8.9.  Upon admission multiple pressure ulcers were identified.  Soft silicone foam with border permitted staff to observe the pressure ulcers without disrupting fragile skin integrity.  Prior her expiration all stage 2 and 3 were healed. 

Case 2
77 year old male, admitted from home on hospice for hepatitis C, non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, cancer of the liver.  Resident was an active participant in all facility activities with no wounds.  One day resident came to staff with serous fluid draining from legs.  Next day both lower legs were covered in hemorrhagic bullae and massively weeping.  Wounds were unable to be measured. 

Absorbent soft silicone foam dressing effectively provided a non-adherent surface to the open weeping wounds.  Day 7 patient was non-responsive and moaned when repositioned.  Patient expired shortly thereafter. 

Case 3

69 year old male, admitted to long term care for custodial care with a history of alcoholism and multiple co-morbidities. 

Lower legs are swollen, weeping and treated monthly for acute cellulitis.  The use of soft silicone exudate transfer dressing was selected to protect fragile skin, and transfer exudate to gauze dressing.  No acute cellulitis in four months of treatment. 

CONCLUSIONS:  Soft silicone technology products were able to meet the unique needs of each resident in the long term care setting to provide a non-adherent surface, flexibility to mold to the resident body dimension, minimize peri wound maceration without disrupting fragile skin integrity.