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eFit – HCP: Skin & Wound
Aging skin is more susceptible to skin infections and skin diseases due to the changes that take place as aging occurs. The epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) thins and the number of melanocytes (pigment-containing cells) decreases, resulting in thinner, more translucent skin. There is also a decrease in oil production by the sebaceous glands and skin often becomes dryer (especially for older women). (1) This renders the skin more susceptible to injury and delays healing. As a result, older adults are prone to skin problems ranging from pruritus (itching), scaling and mild dryness to more urgent skin conditions such as infections and ulcerations. A severe skin infection or non-healing wound in older individuals is serious and requires immediate attention.
We are identifying and evaluating the resources for this area and encourage you to check back. If you have a suggestion for a resource appropriate to this topic, we welcome you to email our content manager at dickinsp@providencecare.ca and provide us with some information about the resource.
We are identifying and evaluating the resources for this area and encourage you to check back. If you have a suggestion for a resource appropriate to this topic, we welcome you to email our content manager at dickinsp@providencecare.ca and provide us with some information about the resource.
Reading List: Skin & Wound Care in Later Life
View the CSAH Lesson on Skin and Wound Infections
View CSAH Courses for HCP: Caring for the Older Adult
This series of courses provides a foundation for understanding, recognizing, assessing and managing health care concerns in the older adult. Each Lesson includes short narrated modules that focus on these four themes.
View HCP Continuous Learning
We share aging-related courses and archived content offered by other leaders in the field of geriatric care.