Wound care in senior living and post-acute communities has long been a pressing challenge — one that the COVID-19 pandemic only made more acute. As residents with chronic and complex wounds require frequent attention, many communities found themselves struggling to deliver timely, expert care due to staffing shortages, infectious risk concerns, and the sheer volume of wounds that arise in older populations.
Why the Problem Matters
More than 8 million Medicare beneficiaries — a sizable portion of the senior population — suffer from chronic wounds annually, including pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, surgical wound complications, and more. These wounds typically require daily or weekly professional care, and if left untreated, can rapidly deteriorate, leading to infections, hospitalization, amputation, or even death.
The onset of the pandemic amplified these challenges:
- Facilities restricted outside clinicians to protect residents, limiting access to wound specialists.
- Many wound care providers rely on in-person, hands-on treatment that telehealth alone cannot replace, given the complexity of wound assessment and intervention.
- The cost of treating wounds is significant, with estimates ranging between $28.1 billion and $96.8 billion annually, placing pressure on providers to find efficient yet effective solutions.
These pressures have underscored the need for innovative, clinically robust wound care delivery models that provide both quality and continuity of care—without increasing exposure risk or administrative burden on staff.
Barriers to Traditional Wound Care Models
Traditional wound care methods in senior living often fall short because they:
- Depend on external clinicians who visit only periodically, which can delay treatment.
- Lack specialized training among existing nursing staff to handle complex wound care protocols.
- Are not always integrated with facility operations, leading to fragmented care and inconsistent documentation.
Even with broader telehealth access under Medicare and modern digital tools, many care teams struggle to replace the value of consistent bedside wound assessment and treatment.
A New Standard: Integrated, On-Site Wound Care
To truly address wound care challenges in senior living, solutions must be comprehensive, collaborative, and patient-centered. This is where organizations like Encore Wound Care step in.
Encore provides a specialized wound care model tailored for long-term care and rehabilitation settings — one that brings expert clinicians directly to the residents who need care most.
What Encore Brings to the Table
- Certified Wound Specialists — led by nurse practitioners credentialed in wound management, delivering expert, evidence-based treatment.
- Weekly On-Site Rounding & 24/7 Support — ensuring wounds are monitored and treated consistently, with rapid response to changes in condition.
- Collaborative Care in Place — working alongside existing facility staff and physicians to integrate care plans and streamline workflows.
- Advanced Tools Like WoundTracker — real-time tracking and analytics to proactively identify issues and support personalized treatment plans.
- Outcome-Driven Results — partner facilities have seen pressure injury rates below national benchmarks and high rates of wound improvement, reflecting the effectiveness of direct, coordinated care.
Why This Model Matters for Senior Living
Encore’s approach directly addresses the core limitations highlighted in wound care discussions within senior living:
- Instead of sporadic or remote consults, residents get consistent, bedside care.
- Instead of burdening existing staff with complex wound protocols, Encore clinicians partner with them, easing workload and improving confidence.
- Instead of delayed interventions, wounds are monitored weekly with data-driven insights, reducing risk of complications.
This combination not only improves healing outcomes but also enhances quality of life for residents, reduces avoidable hospital readmissions, and supports regulatory compliance—all critical goals for modern senior living communities. Want us to connect you to learn more if Encore Wound Care could be a good fit for your organization?
Contact us today. Mention Wound Care and we will get you connected!
https://encorewoundcare.com/services/wound-care/