Meeting the challenges of healing chronic wounds in older adults.
Older Americans are living longer. With aging, the skin becomes thinner, more fragile, and more susceptible to injury. Progressive normal and pathological aging changes increase the risk for chronic health problems that may lead to open wounds and delayed healing. Optimum care of chronic wounds supports the older person's specific health and care needs, progresses to cleansing and débridement of the wound, then uses an appropriate cover and other protective interventions to promote healing.
Boynton
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PR
Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Special Geriatrics Program, Omaha Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, USA. prboynton@aol.com
Jaworski
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D
Paustian
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C
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing*