NUR 2214 / NUR2214 Nursing Care

of the Older Adult Module Three

Overview | Latest 2020 / 2021 |

Rasmussen College

❖ Physiological Needs of the Older Adult - Integumentary

- The skin is often the first sign of aging and is the most visible aspect of aging

- Dermatoporosis – the process in which the skin becomes less pigmented, elastic,

and more thin.

- The older adult’s skin is prone for injuries such as pressure ulcers, bruising, skin

tears, and poor wound healing due to decreased blood flow and decreased

regeneration of skin cells.

- Impaired tissue integrity is a common nursing diagnosis that is used to align

nursing interventions such as:

1.Keeping the patients skin dry and clean

2.Avoiding friction and shear

- The skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous

tissue or fat.

- Commons Skin Conditions

1.Cherry angiomas are superficial benign vascular lesions that are bright red

and small in diameter. These lesions are benign growths that do not

warrant intervention

2.Seborrheic keratosis is another common benign skin condition that are

scaly and vary between tan, brown and black. This benign skin lesion

often is mistaken for malignant melanoma which is a deadly form of skin

cancer.