The aging process affects all aspects of the body, including the skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is soft, allows movement and is resistant to tearing—except in older people. You can protect seniors from skin tears via the following methods.

Older adults are more at risk for skin tears due to their fragile skin. As people age, the blood vessels in their skin deliver less nutrients and moisture to the skin tissue. Skin loses its elasticity and its dermal thickness declines—these are all natural outcomes of aging.

How do skin tears occur?

Skin tears may occur in seniors when they are engaging in everyday activities. Given their thinner skin, aging individuals can develop skin tears from even a slight bump; their blood vessels break open and bruises develop.

Seniors who are prone to falls are at a higher risk for skin tears. Alzheimer’s patients and those with other forms of dementia are likely to become agitated, which could lead to a self-injury or a skin tear. Even removing a Band-Aid can cause a skin tear in older adults.

The elderly individual’s arms, hands, and legs are most susceptible to skin tears. This type of injury occurs when the upper layer of skin separates from the layer of skin beneath it. The senior’s skin may peel back, or it can completely rip off.

While skin tears can be simply treated, they require a great deal of time from the caregiver and may be painful for the elderly care recipient. Seniors with dementia may try to rip off the bulky dressing applied to skin tears. Changing the dressing can further injure the delicate skin.

Instead, prevention is the best approach for skin tears. Caregivers are urged to protect their aging care recipient’s skin so that it is least likely to tear. The following eight methods can be implemented to ensure that a skin tear is less likely to occur.

1.Use pH-Balanced Soap

Regularly bathe the senior with a no-rinse, pH-balanced soap. This type of cleanser is least disruptive to the skin’s pH balance, allowing the skin to stay moisturized and hydrated. Harsh soaps, on the other hand, can leave the skin dry.

2.Moisturize the Skin

Instead of lotion, apply cream to the senior’s skin at least twice a day to lock in moisture. Be sure to apply the cream within three minutes after bathing. Moisturizing the skin with cream helps restore its protective barrier and ease dryness.

3.Wear Appropriate Clothing

Dress the senior in long sleeves and long pants, which further help protect their vulnerable skin. Opt for clothing pieces, such as loose shirts and those without zippers, that will not injure the senior’s delicate skin. Provide the individual with protective footwear, too.

4.Provide Hydration

Provide the senior with plenty of beverages throughout the day. Hydration is an important factor for optimum skin health. The outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis) must stay moisturized in order to remain elastic. Six to 8 glasses of water per day keep the skin hydrated.

5.Serve Nutritious Meals

The wounds that result from skin tears heal faster when the senior consumes a nutrient-rich diet. Vitamin C is a major contributor to wound healing and overall skin health. Food rich in vitamin C includes citrus fruits, spinach, bell peppers, strawberries, and potatoes.

Protein is essential for repairing skin. Offer the older adult protein with every meal. An abundance of protein may be found in eggs, lean meats, poultry, and beans. Dairy products, like yogurt, cheese, and low-fat milk, are also healthy, protein-filled options.

6.Avoid Skin Adhesives

Band-Aids, tape, and other adhesives can injure a senior’s fragile skin. When the senior develops a wound that must be dressed, use a non-stick dressing and gauze to cover the wound. If an adhesive has been applied, remove it carefully by first dabbing it with baby oil or petroleum jelly.

7.Pad Household Items

As mentioned, even slightly bumping into a piece of furniture can cause a skin tear in the elderly. Protect the older adult from mishaps by padding hard objects in the home, such as table corners and bed frames. Cushion wheelchairs, too, to safeguard the senior’s skin.

8.Install Adequate Lighting

A dim home is an invitation to bumps, falls, and skin tears. Caregivers are advised to ensure the home is well lit in order to prevent accidents. Install ample lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs, in the hallways leading to the bathroom and the senior’s bedroom.

Skin tears, depending on their severity, require extensive healing time. If a skin tear is severe, the senior’s doctor should provide care. Family caregivers who aim to help prevent skin tears in their elderly loved ones can turn to the professional caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care.

We are a trusted home care agency with a staff of compassionate caregivers. Our professionals tend to the daily non-medical needs of the seniors in our care. Attention from our caregivers can help prevent skin tears and keep seniors physically and emotionally healthy.

Responsibilities our caregivers undertake include preparing healthy meals and ensuring hydration—both of which can ensure skin remains healthy. We shop for fresh groceries and provide transportation to doctors’ offices, exercise classes, and senior centers. Companionship is also included to deter loneliness.

Our in-home care is comprehensive and flexible. Care can be customized to meet the needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Families rely on us for quality respite care. We also offer 24-hour care, live-in care, and hospice care to provide comfort at the last stage of life.

When your elderly loved one would thrive with extra support at home, choose Assisting Hands Home Care. Our licensed, bonded, and insured caregivers are privileged to serve the care needs of seniors in BallenIsles, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Singer Island, Wellington, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Call us today at (561) 566-5989 to schedule a free in-home consult for senior home care.