Community-acquired pressure injuries
Prevention, timely recognition and early care of pressure injuries for Māori kaumātua and Pacific elders within the community living at home.
Pressure injuries
Pressure injuries (also known as pressure sores or bed sores) are serious but often preventable. They can have a major impact on a person’s health, quality of life and whānau or aiga wellbeing.
Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 and over who are living and cared for at home are more at risk due to long-term health conditions, reduced mobility and barriers in access to timely care and support.
To address the barriers we are leading a quality improvement project focused on strengthening prevention, early recognition and at home care of pressure injuries for Māori and Pacific peoples living at home in Counties Manukau, Auckland.
About the project
The project uses a co-design approach, working in partnership with Māori and Pacific peoples, consumers, whānau, aiga, carers and healthcare workers to identify what’s not working and to design practical solutions together. These solutions will be tested to ensure they are fit for purpose and do not create unintended outcomes before wider implementation.
Our project approach is currently being developed and may include community workshops, engagement sessions, focus groups and interviews. This will help identify barriers and opportunities for earlier recognition and prevention of pressure injuries in the community, as well as support the co-design, testing and refinement of resources and tools with communities.
What this project will deliver
The project aims to:
- Complete a community-focused co-design project to strengthen prevention, early recognition and at-home care of pressure injuries.
- Develop and test culturally appropriate resources and guidance to support Māori and Pacific peoples, their whānau, aiga and carers.
- Explore opportunities to share the resources developed through this work for wider national use.
This project will be informed by Māori and Pacific cultural models of engagement to ensure it reflects local worldviews, values, and tikanga.
Who is involved
A project working group will guide and support this mahi, bringing together Māori and Pacific consumers, clinical experts, home care and community service providers, and Commission staff.
This collaboration brings together clinical knowledge, quality improvement expertise, and lived experience to create practical, culturally responsive solutions.
Smaller subgroups may also be formed to focus on specific areas or challenges, with project management, coordination, and quality improvement support provided by our Quality Systems team
Find out more
We are currently working with providers, community groups, and consumers to establish the working group and finalise the detailed project plan.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved, please contact the team via communitypressureinjuries@hqsc.govt.nz
Published: 3 Nov 2025
Modified: 5 Nov 2025
