Older people are at risk of skin damage, as changes that can occur to skin as it ages can affect its integrity, making it more vulnerable to damage, and to the development of a pressure injury or skin tears 1. diet full of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Otherwise, you could simply do some stretchings in your home. The point is to get as much movement as your health and fitness level allows. Despite positive characteristics, the skin is always susceptible to and at risk of injury and breakdown. Encourage and facilitate a healthy diet - Weâve discussed the importance of nutrition when it comes to skin health. Assist with movement - Help your relative get as much exercise as possible. Ensuring skin integrity in the elderly requires a team approach and includes the individual, caregivers, and clinicians. What you should specifically do will vary depending on the current skin health of the person youâre caring for. Include healthy fats in your diet. Understanding best practices in addressing skin integrity issues can promote positive outcomes with the elderly. Identify the different types of skin breakdown. Skin integrity relates to skin health. But as we age, we start losing skin integrity due to a wide variety of factors, as we will discuss below. Changes occur in the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis leading to thin, dry and sagging skin, while loss of structure and integrity diminishes the skin’s ability to protect the body and detect changes in … To learn more about our home care services, In addition, the prevalence of polypharmacy in the aged population substantially increases the risk of cutaneous drug reactions, which can profoundly complicate accurate diagnosis of dermatologic disorders. â Â Â Â Pain or itchiness - There are many conditions that can cause the skin to get painful and itchy, including pressure sores. Pressure wounds can happen to anyone, but older adults who spend prolonged periods sitting in a wheelchair or lying in bed can be more vulnerable. Offer to do their shopping, and if possible, to help with the meal preparation process. GENERAL PURPOSE: To provide an overview of the assessment and management of risk factors for falls in older adults. Skin integrity assessment is an essential part of nursing care and should be conducted on admission and at least daily depending on the individual’s circumstances. Skin integrity in the elderly is compromised, and safety concerns are increased with the long-term use of any medication prescribed. health disciplines (eg, the physician, physical therapist, and dietitian) to plan and provide preventive treatment measures for the elderly person with potential for impaired skin integrity: pressure ulcers. But unfortunately, those with impaired sensations due to nerve damage often donât notice the symptoms. Let’s take a closer look at skincare tips for seniors. 6. Many people donât think of their skin as a protective organ. Luckily, there are steps you can take, such as enjoying a nutritious diet or practicing good hygiene, and risk factors you can monitor to keep your skin feeling healthy. Quality of life - Unhealthy skin can become dry and flaky, and it can cause pain and itchiness. 3. Exposure to radiation - If the person youâre caring for has gone through radiation therapy, they could be at a higher risk of skin infection and damage. Aging skin repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. It receives one third of the body’s blood circulation. Consult a medical professional to determine your best course of action if you experience or are currently experiencing any of the following. Here are some of the things that older adults and their caregivers can do to maintain and promote skin integrity. Symptoms may be redness, swelling, and pain. Nutritional factors that can help maintain skin integrity: Stay hydrated. Although reversing the lost skin integrity with aging is very impossible, it is fairly possible and doable to implement some of the actions down below to keep skin hydrated and dewy. The UV light from sunlight damages elastin, which is the elastic tissue that is responsible for the plump look in youthful skin. Also, garlic and ginger are great additions to any healthy diet. CLINICAL SCENARIO An 86-year-old female patient, Mrs B., returns for a follow-up visit at the wound clinic. If you have an elderly family member or relative that needs care, you can provide caregiving services and get compensated through Medicaid. Maintaining skin integrity helps ensure that the skin can perform its protective function optimally. Signs of healthy ageing skin include thinning, sagging, wrinkling and the appearance of age spots, broken blood vessels and areas of dryness. Adv Skin Wound Care. â Â Â Â Category 4 pressure ulcer - A very deep wound that might potentially reach the bones and muscles in the affected area. Maintaining skin integrity equals maintaining skin health, and this includes people of any age. Research has shown that a moist environment promotes better healing when compared to a dry environment. As people age, skin changes and becomes thinner, drier, and more fragile. Mechanical trauma - Mechanical trauma refers to events like skin tears and deep scratches. Some skin care products, often in the form of a spray or a towelette, create a clear, protective film over the skin. If youâre not already familiar, CDPAP is a program through the New York State Medicaid that allows Medicaid beneficiaries to hire friends and family members (with specific exceptions) as care providers. To maintain proper hydration, drink plenty of water, and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to get minerals like potassium, sodium, and magnesium. And the best way to prevent pressure wounds is to maintain optimal skin health and integrity. We will also cover what you can do as a care provider to help your senior family member or client to maintain skin integrity, as well as to help in the skin healing process if necessary. But be sure to only use sunscreens that are either approved or recommended by their dermatologist to avoid any unwanted skin reactions. Edema - Edema is a condition that causes swelling due to too much fluid trapped in one part of the body, usually in the extremities like hands, feet, arms, ankles, etc. If they become isolated, it could also affect their mental health. This results in adverse skin conditions. With age, it becomes more important to take care of … When in proper health, the skin performs various vital functions. Wound healing may be up to 4 times slower. A pressure wound (also called a pressure sore, bed sore or pressure ulcer) is an injury to the skin and surrounding tissue.