We’ve all had a scrape, a cut, a tear, or some other wound form, and some people are more capable of healing these scars than others. Seniors may require medical intervention and diet & nutrition support for serious lesions such as decubitus ulcers or pressure sores. 

 

Multimorbidity is frequently connected with aging, and the prevalence of non-healing ulcers is associated with several diseases. Most non-healing wounds are linked to some of the most frequent illnesses in the elderly, including vascular disease, incapacity, unrelieved hypertension, venous insufficiency, and diabetes. People with non-healing wounds are generally older people who have other medical problems. 

 

That’s why they need home health monitors all the time. Tissue repair capacity deteriorates with age, and wound healing in elderly individuals (> 70 years) has been slower than in younger people. Slower healing raises the risk of infection and makes the wound more likely to become chronic. In the elderly, these variables lead to more complicated wound treatment.

 

Wound healing in its three stages

 

Wounds usually go through three stages as they heal. However, keep in mind that wound healing isn’t always linear, and wounds might go forward and backward through their recovery phases. 

 

  • Inflammatory phase

 

The body produces inflammation and forms a clot when responding to the damage to stop the bleeding during the inflammatory phase. Essential cells (white blood cells, enzymes, nutrition, and antibodies) can reach the injured location when blood arteries dilate. Redness, heat, pain, and swelling are caused by these cells, which is why the phase is called “inflammation.” All you need with this phase is first aid.

 

  • Proliferation phase

 

The wound is rebuilt during the proliferation phase. As a new network of blood vessels is formed, the wound closes, allowing the tissue to absorb enough oxygen and nutrients. Pain relief creams are important in this phase. The tissue is pink or red, irregular in texture, and does not bleed easily throughout the healthy stages of wound healing. Infected tissue may seem dark. New skin cells resurface the injury toward the conclusion of the proliferative period. 

 

  • Maturation phase

 

Finally, the maturation phase begins when the wound has healed completely and the scar has faded. This “remodeling” usually starts approximately 21 days after an injury and can last a year or more, but the wound’s area will always be weaker than the untreated skin. 

 

Now that we’ve learned a little about wounds let’s look at these aspects that influence their recovery.

 

Factors that affect the wound to recover 

 

One of the most influential paths that aging can sabotage the ordered and effective advancement through the stages of recovery is through some of these factors that affect the recovery to be successful:

 

  • The nutritional situation

 

Because the appearance of the senior or the wound is not a reliable indicator of whether the senior is getting enough nutrients, nutritional monitoring must be done regularly. The diagnosis equipment is the best way to put all medical diagnoses, and it also plays an important part in health maintenance. Prealbumin levels, albumin, transferrin levels, and total lymphocyte count indicate malnutrition that must be evaluated and regularly monitored because protein is essential for cell growth.

 

  • Type of body

 

Body type might also have an impact on wound healing. Because of the low blood supply to adipose tissue, an obese senior’s wound healing may be compromised. Furthermore, some fat seniors suffer from protein deficiency, slowing the healing process even more. The best way to fill up the deficiency in the body’s protein is by taking up diet & nutrition. When a patient is underweight, however, the lack of oxygen and nutritional resources can obstruct wound healing.

 

  • Age

 

Due to the development of comorbidities as people age, wounds in senior patients may heal more slowly than in younger ones. Skin breakdown and wound healing are risk factors in older people, including insufficient food intake, aberrant hormonal responses, inadequate hydration, and compromised immune, circulatory and respiratory systems. So seniors should apply skin cream, body lotion, or skin moisturizer to prevent the cracking up and hardening of their skin.

 

  • Chronic illnesses

 

Chronic wounds are those that last for a long time. Chronic disorders such as peripheral vascular disease, cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes impede wound healing. Patients with chronic conditions should be constantly monitored throughout their treatment to get the best possible outcome. Home health care equipment is good for seniors living in their houses and not senior care facilities.

 

  • Insufficiency of the arteries and veins

 

The lower extremities can be affected by various wounds or ulcers, including diabetes, pressure, venous ulcers, and arterial. A lack of blood flow frequently causes ulcers. To provide proper topical and supportive medicines, the practitioner must first determine the type of ulcer. The fastest way to heal ulcers, mostly venous ones, is through compressor therapy.

 

  • Medication

 

Prescription drugs might obstruct the healing process. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and many painkillers and pain relievers, commonly given to people with arthritis and available over-the-counter (OTC), can obstruct the healing process during the inflammation stage. Anticoagulants can cause blood to clot, while immunosuppressants can weaken the immune system and increase infection risk. 

 

  • Values from the lab

 

When measuring healing, nutritional markers aren’t the only laboratory values to evaluate. People from the lab can use the hemoglobin level to measure the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity; however, it is also important to access the senior’s hepatic, thyroid functions, and renal to estimate their healing capacity. It is also advisable to check the blood pressure first to determine whether they’re fit for tests with their age or not. Use blood pressure monitors.

 

Final Thoughts

 

We at AvaCare Medical assist seniors’ nutrition and provide safe spaces for recovery to enhance their health and wellness. Our medical specialists can help you build a personalized dietary and nutrition supplements treatment plan to aid in your recovery.

AvaCare Medical is your wound care partner. Our goal is to keep patients healthy, at home, and out of the hospital as long as possible. To discover more, see us now or visit our website. Please call us at 1-877-813-7799 or email us at info@avacaremedical.com.