Patients & Caregivers: Healing Starts Here
Caring for a wound can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. This resource center offers practical guidance, step-by-step education, and supportive tools to help you and your loved ones care for wounds safely and confidently at home. Explore trusted information, helpful resources, and support designed to promote healing and improve daily life.
Expert Wound Care Resources for Patients & Caregivers
Wound Care Basics
Proper wound care is the foundation of healing. By understanding the basics, you can support the healing process, reduce complications, and feel confident in caring for yourself or a loved one.
Essentials
- Diabetics
- Smoking & Alcohol Use
- Pressure Injury Prevention
- Healthy Blood Flow
- Pain
Proper Use of Dressings
Keeping a wound properly covered is one of the most important steps in healing. The right dressing protects against infection, keeps the wound moist, and supports faster recovery. Learning how to apply and change dressings correctly and using supplies as directed, helps prevent setbacks and ensures the best chance for healing.
Wound Cleansing
Gentle cleansing is the first step to healing. Using safe solutions like clean water, saline, or recommended wound cleansers that remove bacteria and debris without harming healthy developing tissue. Harsh products like hydrogen peroxide or alcohol can actually damage healing skin, so knowing what to use makes all the difference.
Emotional & Community Support
Healing is stronger when we work together. Emotional support from family, caregivers, or community programs can make wound care less stressful. You don’t have to face it alone—these resources provide guidance, encouragement, and connection to help you and your loved ones through the healing process.
Preventing Infection
Preventing infection is critical in wound care. Wash your hands before and after touching your wound, follow your provider’s instructions for dressing changes, and watch closely for early signs of infection: like redness, swelling, pain, or changes in drainage. Catching infection early helps protect your health and speeds recovery.
Nutrition & Hydration
Proper nutrition is the foundation of healing. Patients with wounds often need more protein, vitamins, and minerals than diet alone can provide. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) can help identify nutritional gaps, create personalized meal plans, and support blood sugar and chronic disease management— which are all critical to healing.
Drinking enough fluids is just as important—dehydration slows healing and weakens skin.
Wound Care Referrals
Access to the right wound care provider can make all the difference in healing. FWAE helps connect patients and caregivers with trusted professionals, treatment services, and support resources to ensure safe and effective care.
Contact us for guidance in finding specialized treatment, ongoing care, or navigating available services.
Wound Care Supplies
Our team helps patients access the right wound care dressings and supplies at the right time, so they can focus on healing with confidence.
If you have limited access to wound care supplies, contact us for guidance and support to ensure you have what you need to heal safely.
Join us in reaching our goal!
You can make a direct impact on the future of wound care. Your support helps expand access to treatment, deliver education and support to patients and caregivers, and equip healthcare professionals with the tools they need to provide quality, compassionate care.