For a frail, elderly nursing home resident, skin breakdown may lead to illness and depression. If a pressure ulcer develops, it places the resident at a higher risk for infections, and in some cases it may be life threatening. To protect residents who are at risk for skin breakdown, a facility should a have skin care program. In this program, a resident’s skin condition should be assessed and monitored on a continual basis. The resident’s care plan will indicate what actions you need to take to care for the resident’s skin and help in the prevention of skin breakdown.

This revised and updated program provides CNAs with a basic understanding of how skin breakdown occurs and offers examples of the skills CNAs need in helping to care for residents with fragile skin. Topics include:

After completing this course, the learner should be able to: