Final answer:
True, limited mobility does increase the risk of pressure sores among the elderly. Immobility, due to conditions such as arthritis or hip fractures, leads to sustained pressure on certain areas, causing reduced blood flow and the potential for tissue death. Preventive measures are crucial in the care of immobile elderly patients to avoid the formation of pressure sores.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that limited mobility increases the risk of pressure sores among the elderly is true. As elderly individuals are less physically able, they tend to have a higher risk of developing conditions that limit their mobility, such as arthritis and osteoporosis-related fractures. When an elderly person is immobile, particularly after an injury like a hip fracture, they are prone to pressure sores, also known as decubitus ulcers or bed sores. This is due to constant, unrelieved pressure on bony parts of the body, which reduces blood flow and can cause tissue death. Such pressure sores can become serious if they get infected, therefore mobility is key in preventing these wounds.
Hospitals and long-term care facilities usually have protocols in place, such as regularly turning patients, to help prevent the occurrence of pressure sores. However, conditions like hip fractures and other factors that impair mobility significantly increase the risk of such complications, highlighting the importance of preventive measures and frequent repositioning for immobilized elderly patients.