Older adults and ulcers: chronic wounds in the geriatric population.

PURPOSE: To provide the wound care practitioner with information about how chronic wound healing differs in the older adult population.

TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

OBJECTIVES

After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to: 1. Compare chronic wound healing processes and outcomes in older adults with those in younger persons. 2. Explain the relationships between wound healing, comorbidities, and adverse drug events. 3. Apply known relationships among wound healing, comorbid medical conditions, and functional decline to care of the older adult.