The interest in quality of life in healthcare has grown enormously over the past three decades. This interest stems from a shift in focus from treatments alone to a desire to really understand the disease process and impact of treatments from the perspective of the individual. This article explores the literature about pressure ulcers and quality of life. The aim is to increase the readers understanding of the impact of pressure ulcers on the individual and in doing so highlight the importance of the development of effective pressure ulcer preventive strategies.