Taking care of any cuts, scrapes, and other open wounds promptly is always a good idea to prevent infection, however for older adults this is especially important, as neglecting these can lead to more serious consequences. While not all wounds can be treated effectively at home, many can, so it is beneficial to understand when and how to manage wound care for an older loved one.
Here, we are exploring why older adults tend to get wounds more often, what some of the most common causes are, why proper wound care is critical for older people, tips and advice for performing wound care at home, when you should seek medical attention, and how home caregivers can help with wound care.
At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about wound care, we can help.
Older adults are more susceptible to wounds for a number of reasons, and studies have supported this, finding they are more likely to have chronic wounds than younger people.
Prevalence rates for skin tears have been found to be as high as 41%, and while most people will heal from a small scrape in a few days, older adults usually find this takes longer, which means there is more time for infections and other complications to occur. In addition, older people tend to experience health problems that can compromise skin integrity and make wounds more likely, such as diabetes.
There are two main reasons wound care is more important for older adults:
Older adults are more susceptible to wounds for a number of reasons, and studies have supported this, finding they are more likely to have chronic wounds than younger people.
Prevalence rates for skin tears have been found to be as high as 41%, and while most people will heal from a small scrape in a few days, older adults usually find this takes longer, which means there is more time for infections and other complications to occur. In addition, older people tend to experience health problems that can compromise skin integrity and make wounds more likely, such as diabetes.
There are two main reasons wound care is more important for older adults:
Skin tears, scrapes and other small injuries typically happen on the body’s extremities, such as the feet, legs, hands and arms. Some of the most common ways these might occur in older adults include:
When caring for a loved one, even the smallest injuries should be cleaned and managed appropriately. If signs of complications occur, medical attention should be sought to ensure these do not become worse. As well as potential pain and discomfort, even minor scrapes on skin can become a problem for older people due to reduced skin sensation, slower healing times, less effective immune systems, and more.
If you notice a wound is not healing after several weeks (or notice signs of infection such as warmth or redness around the wound, yellow or green discharge, an unpleasant odour, fever or chills, pain, nausea or vomiting) you should seek medical attention to ensure there are no further complications.
It is also extremely important that you seek urgent medical attention if you have any of the signs of sepsis. This is a serious infection that should be treated as an emergency, and you should go straight to your nearest A&E for treatment. The signs of sepsis include:
In most cases, superficial wounds such as small cuts, scrapes and scratches can be easily treated at home, and this is still true for older adults, but more care and caution must be taken. Older people tend to have thinner skin that is more susceptible to injury, and injuries could become more of an urgent issue for people in this age group.
Studies suggest the effect of chronic wounds on a person’s quality of life is particularly profound in older adults, and further studies have found the degree of frailty corresponds with how fast wounds heal in older adults, and how well they heal. For this reason, wound care is especially important if you are looking after an older loved one at home to avoid further complications and potential hospital visits.
Neglecting wounds can lead to serious consequences such as painful infections, sepsis, cellulitis, chronic ulcers and more. All of these things can be very challenging to manage in older adults and could result in time in hospital, so committing to effective wound care – no matter how small the wound may seem – is the best way to prevent further deterioration, promote faster healing, and reduce the likelihood of complications, as well as minimising discomfort and mobility limitations for the person.
Remember, if the older person you are caring for has diabetes you should adhere to strict wound care and cleaning according to GP instructions, keep careful watch for early signs of complications, and seek medical attention for any wounds that would be considered more serious to avoid escalation.
While it is important to intervene and ensure larger or deeper wounds are checked by a medical professional, most minor wounds can be taken care of in the person’s own home, provided effective wound care management is adhered to.
Some of the steps involved in wound care at home include:
Most people see minor wounds begin to heal in a few days, however older adults may take longer for this to happen. There are a few circumstances in which you will need to seek medical attention for a wound, such as:
If any of the above apply, visit the doctor or an urgent care facility as soon as possible to ensure there are no infections or other complications.
Older people and their caregivers can take proactive steps to minimise the risk of wounds. Here are a few things that could help:
Caregivers can provide simple wound care in the person’s own home by cleaning, sterilising, applying appropriate dressings, ensuring proper hygiene during dressing changes, and more. When it comes to wound care for older people, taking precautions to prevent infections is so important, so if you are caring for a loved one and would like to make sure this is done effectively, you can bring in a Care Professional to help.
As well as wound management, Care Professionals can offer emotional support during the healing process, as some wounds can cause discomfort, reduced wellbeing, reduced mobility and more – this can impact an older person’s quality of life, so having a professional around who can assist and boost morale can be very helpful.
At Home Instead, our Care Professionals are trained to the highest clinical standards and can work alongside your own doctors and health teams to ensure you receive the best care at home. Whether you require hourly care for a few hours a week, a couple of hours daily, or 24-hour live-in care to support your wound care needs, we can help provide the bespoke, person-centred care you need. Reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss this, and allow us to create a personalised package to support you.
Michelle Tennant, Clinical Governance Lead
I am a Registered Nurse of 20 years and have been in the care sector since I was 17 years old, I have had experience in every role that exists in a care company, including Registered Manager, care consultant, recruiter, scheduling, auditing, complaints, and networking! My role in the National office is Clinical Governance Lead, and most recently have been working with DHSC and Chief Nurse Deborah Sturdy to develop a clinical governance framework for the delegated healthcare activities in social care, I am continuing to take the lead on our Healthcare at Home service and drive this in the network. In addition to my nursing role, I’m 4 years into my PhD in Aging at Lancaster University, with a key focus on the retention of Care Professionals in the social care sector.