Which age-related skin changes increase injury risk and how should care be adjusted?

Which age-related skin changes increase injury risk and how should care be adjusted?

• A. Thinner, drier, more fragile skin; reduced perfusion and slower wound healing; adjust with gentle handling, frequent moisturization, avoiding adhesives, monitoring for friction, and ensuring adequate nutrition and repositioning.
• B. Thicker skin and faster healing with strong adhesives.
• C. No age-related changes.
• D. Younger skin is more fragile.

Answer: (A)

Older adults have thinner, drier, more fragile skin with reduced perfusion and slower wound healing. These changes increase the risk of skin injuries from simple friction, pressure, or trauma, and they slow recovery when injuries occur. Care should focus on protecting the skin and supporting hydration and nutrition: handle the skin gently, moisturize frequently to prevent dryness and cracking, avoid using adhesives or use skin-friendly options, monitor for friction and shear during transfers and repositioning, ensure adequate nutrition and hydration to support skin integrity and healing, and reposition regularly to relieve pressure. The other statements don’t fit aging biology—skin isn’t typically thicker with faster healing, there are clear age-related changes, and younger skin isn’t more fragile.

Older adults have thinner, drier, more fragile skin with reduced perfusion and slower wound healing. These changes increase the risk of skin injuries from simple friction, pressure, or trauma, and they slow recovery when injuries occur. Care should focus on protecting the skin and supporting hydration and nutrition: handle the skin gently, moisturize frequently to prevent dryness and cracking, avoid using adhesives or use skin-friendly options, monitor for friction and shear during transfers and repositioning, ensure adequate nutrition and hydration to support skin integrity and healing, and reposition regularly to relieve pressure. The other statements don’t fit aging biology—skin isn’t typically thicker with faster healing, there are clear age-related changes, and younger skin isn’t more fragile.