Preventing and managing medically-induced skin injuries in elderly patients: a risk-based approach

As individuals age, their skin becomes increasingly vulnerable. With the rapid growth of the aging population, medically-induced skin injuries such as hospital-acquired pressure injuries, medical adhesive-related skin injuries, medical device-related pressure injuries, and catheter-associated skin injuries are being reported more frequently among elderly patients. These injuries pose significant threats to the health and well-being of older adults, escalate healthcare costs, and present new challenges within clinical settings. This paper reviews the risk assessment tools for medically-induced skin injuries in elderly patients and outlines strategies for prevention, control, and management. The goal is to enhance nursing staff’s understanding of these injuries and provide a theoretical foundation to improve their assessment, prevention, and management practices.