Elderly trauma patients sustain distinct patterns of injuries, have a unique response to stress, and are more likely to suffer serious consequences to trauma compared to younger patients. The key to successful management of the older trauma patient is to maintain a high index of suspicion for serious consequences to relatively minor injuries and to use vigilant clinical observation. The author discusses the vital role nurses play in assessing and monitoring the elderly person's response to injury and treatment, reviews some of the physiologic changes associated with aging, and provides recommendations for management priorities during the initial shock phase.
