Pressure ulcer prevention in frail older people
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Pressure ulcer prevention in frail older people

Maree Barry Clinical nurse specialist, care of older adults, St Mary’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Linda Nugent Research fellow, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and Nursing & Midwifery Planning & Development Unit, Health Service Executive Dublin North, Dublin, Ireland

Pressure ulcers are painful and cause discomfort, have a negative effect on quality of life, and are costly to treat. The incidence and severity of preventable pressure ulcers is an important indicator of quality of care; it is essential that healthcare providers monitor prevalence and incidence rates to ensure that care strategies implemented are effective. Frail older people are at increased risk of developing pressure ulcers. This article discusses the complexities of preventing pressure ulcers in frail older people and emphasises the importance of structured educational programmes that incorporate effective clinical leadership and multidisciplinary teamwork.

Nursing Standard. 30, 16, 50-60. doi: 10.7748/ns.30.16.50.s46

Correspondence

maree.barry@hse.ie

Peer review

All articles are subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software.

Received: 25 November 2014

Accepted: 30 June 2015

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