Elderly hospitalized patients are at increased risk for worsening functional status and delirium, falls, medication toxicity, nosocomial infections, malnutrition, dehydration, immobilization, and decubitus ulcers. They are susceptible to complications not directly related to the illness for which they are hospitalized. Well-designed geriatric consultation teams and geriatric care units improve patient functioning and prevent deleterious events in acutely ill older adults. Effective discharge plans and communication between care providers can ensure safe transitioning of patients between different locations or different levels of care. Perhaps the future will bring changes in healthcare reimbursement and the use of performance measures that will contribute to successful care of the frail elderly population. (Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging 2007;15[11]:18-23)

Good fundamental principles of wound care are very important to the overall success of wound healing. The use of wound care technology is rapidly increasing in the long-term care environment. Negative pressure therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, silver-based therapy, ultrasonic mist, and special wound mattresses are becoming options for the multidisciplinary skin care treatment team. The evidence behind the use of these technologies has been increasing in the last few years. Pressure reduction mattresses have shown good evidence of superiority over standard mattresses. Investigators have evaluated hyperbaric oxygen and negative pressure therapy for diabetic foot ulcers with some success. Ultrasonic mist and silver-based therapy also show some potential promise. Despite the overall promise in some randomized trials, there are still limitations with the evidence behind these technologies. (Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging 2007;15[11]:35-40)