• To enhance your understanding of age-related skin changes and susceptibility to wounds in older age
• To increase your awareness of the principles of wound assessment and management in older people
• To recognise that wound healing is not always achievable or realistic in an older person
Age-related skin changes lead to increased susceptibility to skin damage and delayed wound healing, which is exacerbated by comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. In some cases, wound healing is not achievable or realistic and this needs to be reflected in the wound management plan. To improve outcomes and experience in older people presenting with wounds it is important to select wound management products that protect the wound bed and surrounding skin, minimise trauma, reduce symptoms and/or promote healing. This article explores how conducting holistic wound assessments, setting realistic treatment aims, and using wound management strategies tailored to each person’s needs and wishes can have a positive effect on older people’s quality of life.
Nursing Older People. 36, 3, 20-26. doi: 10.7748/nop.2024.e1471
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Swan J, Mogford J, Leek K (2024) Wound care in older people: overcoming the challenges of assessment and management. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2024.e1471
Published online: 24 April 2024
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