Balance and cognitive decline in older adults in the cardiovascular health study
ConclusionsFuture studies should evaluate standing balance as a potential screening technique to identify individuals at risk of cognitive decline. Furthermore, a better understanding of the pathophysiological link between balance and cognition may inform strategies to prevent cognitive decline. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 10, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Atrial fibrillation and oral anticoagulation in older adults: an update
atrial fibrillationstrokeanticoagulationfrailtycare homes (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 10, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Factors associated with initiation of bone-health medication among older adults in primary care in Ireland
ConclusionsBone-health medication initiation is targeted at patients at higher fracture-risk but much potential under-treatment remains, particularly in those>80 years and with co-morbidities. This may reflect clinical uncertainty in older multimorbid patients, and further research should explore decision-making in preventive bone medication prescribing. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 8, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
New Horizons in the impact of frailty on pharmacokinetics: latest developments
AbstractFrail older people have a high prevalence of drug use and are susceptible to adverse drug reactions. The physiological changes of frailty are likely to affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. We reviewed the methods and findings of published studies of pharmacokinetics in frailty. Nine studies describing pharmacokinetics and an additional three of pharmacokinetic pathways in frail older people were identified. Most pharmacokinetic studies investigated a single administration of a medication, dose or formulation, in small populations, often with limited representation of males or females, and applied variable ...
Source: Age and Ageing - March 4, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
A scoping review of education and training resources supporting care home staff in facilitating residents ’ sexuality, intimacy and relational needs
ConclusionFew education interventions and training resources were identified. The findings suggest that education interventions can improve knowledge and/or change care staff attitudes, in the short-term, towards older people ’s sexuality, intimacy and relational needs in care home settings, which can lead to facilitating staff to enhance person-centred care in this area of need. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 3, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Dysphagia due to necrotizing otitis externa
AbstractAn 88-year-old man presented with delirium, and subsequently developed hoarseness and oropharyngeal dysphagia. This was due to skull-based osteomyelitis from necrotizing otitis externa (NOE), causing lower cranial nerve (X, XII) palsies and venous sinus thrombosis. Diagnosis was delayed as the patient reported no otalgia, had an almost normal looking external auditory canal and was not diabetic. He deteriorated and died despite intravenous antibiotics. We need a high index of suspicion for NOE and its complications in patients presenting with otolaryngeal symptoms. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 3, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Transitioning into care: moving into a care home
LGBT+inclusivitycare homespositive changesequality and diversity changesaudit tools (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 3, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Potential biases when observing increased mortality risk in association with smoking cessation among older adults
smokingolder adultscausationmortality (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 2, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Cycle more with virtual reality: a proof of concept study in an institutionalised able-bodied geriatric population
ConclusionThe use of VR seems feasible to help achieve PA recommendations for able-bodied people living in nursing homes, even with moderate cognitive impairments. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - March 1, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Delayed transfers of care for older people: a wider perspective
AbstractDelayed transfers of care (DTOC), often unhelpfully referred to as ‘bed blocking’, has become a byword for waste and inefficiency in healthcare systems throughout the world. An estimated 2.7 million bed days are occupied each year in England by older people no longer in need of acute treatment, estimated to cost £820 million (2014/15) in inpatient care. Policy and media attention have often been drawn to this narrative of financial waste, resulting in policy setting that directly targets the level of DTOC, but has done little to put patient health first.These figures and policies portray a misleading image of ...
Source: Age and Ageing - February 26, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Editor ’s view
(Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - February 26, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
‘Patients come with two garbage bags full of problems and we have to sort them.’ A qualitative study of the experiences of healthcare professionals on patients admitted to short-term residential care in the Netherlands
ConclusionsSTRC is used by patients with complex health problems and pre-existing functional decline. Evidence-based guidelines, appropriate staffing and resources should be provided to STRC facilities. We need to consider the environmental context of the patient and healthcare system to enable older adults to live independently at home for longer. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - February 24, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Factors associated with virtual care access in older adults: a cross-sectional study
Conclusionsolder adults who are frail or lack a caregiver to attend assessments with them may not have equitable access to videoconference-based virtual care. Future research should evaluate interventions that support older adults in accessing videoconference assessments. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - February 24, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Diagnostic accuracy of dementia screening tools in the Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 167 diagnostic studies
ConclusionsA number of dementia screening tools were validated in the Chinese population after cultural and linguistical adaptations. The ACE-R and MoCA had the best diagnostic accuracy, whereas the GPCOG, with an administration time< 5 minutes, could be considered as a rapid screening tool. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - February 24, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Recent mortality in Britain: a review of trends and explanations
AbstractThe annual percentage improvement in standardised mortality rates in the period 2011 –19 was the lowest for 70 years, whereas the 2001–10 value was the highest since records began in 1841. A similar slowdown occurred from around 2011 in most European Union countries, although this was generally less severe than in Britain. Life expectancy at birth actually fell in USA for three successive years in period 2014–17. The downturn in Britain since 2011 was wide-ranging, affecting young and old, women and men and the more and the less advantaged to a broadly similar extent. Year-to-year variation in mortality incr...
Source: Age and Ageing - February 24, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
