Hospital recovery is facilitated by prevention of pressure ulcers in older adults.
Pressure ulcers are areas of tissue damage caused by unrelieved pressure that results in ischemia. About 70% of pressure ulcers occur in adults who are older than 65 years of age; the most common sites are the sacrum and heels. The rate at which new ulcers develop in acute care settings varies from 0.4% to 38%, with a mean incidence of about 7%. Recovery in patients who have pressure ulcers is delayed, as demonstrated by an increased length of hospitalization and increased health care costs. This article addresses recovery in older adults who are at risk for the development of a pressure ulcer.
Stotts
Nancy A
NA
School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, #631, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610, USA. nancy.stotts@nursing.ucsf.edu
Wu
Horng-Shiuann
HS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001513:Beds; D004867:Equipment Design; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment