Geriatrics training for nurses in a skilled nursing facility: a GWEP feasibility study
Geriatrics knowledge and expertise is critical to the care of older adults in skilled nursing facilities. However, opportunities for ongoing geriatrics training for nurses working in skilled nursing facilities are often scarce or nonexistent. This feasibility study describes a mixed-methods analysis of nurses' educational needs and barriers to continuing education in a for-profit skilled nursing facility in an underserved, urban environment. Potential mechanisms to overcome barriers are proposed. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - December 8, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Louise C. Hawkley, Monica Long, Tia Kostas, Stacie Levine, Jason Molony, Katherine Thompson Source Type: research
The effects of hearing loss on person-centred care in residential aged care: a narrative review
Person-centred care is achieved through strategies such as effective communication and shared decision-making. Hearing loss can lead to communication breakdown and social isolation in residential aged care. The review aimed to address how hearing loss affects person-centred care in residential aged care settings. Empirical literature was identified through a systematic search of academic databases. Articles were reviewed against an inclusion criteria and general inductive analysis was employed to identify recurring factors across included studies. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - December 7, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Kristiana Ludlow, Virginia Mumford, Meredith Makeham, Jeffrey Braithwaite, David Greenfield Source Type: research
Exercise merging physical and cognitive stimulation improves physical fitness and cognitive functioning in older nursing home residents: a pilot study
The main purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and the effects of a multimodal exercise intervention on the physical and cognitive functioning of institutionalized older people. Twenty-one older adults (83.5 ± 4.9 years) living in two nursing home residences, were tested on two occasions 4 weeks apart to establish a baseline measure, and then engage in the exercise program twice weekly for 8 weeks. Participants were tested again after the exercise program. Almost all physical fitness and cognitive tests were unchanged at baseline measures, but after the exercise program, significant improvements ...
Source: Geriatric Nursing - December 5, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Jos é Marmeleira, Luís Galhardas, Armando Raimundo Source Type: research
On-line health seeking activity of older adults: an integrative review of the literature
In the modern digital era healthcare is seeing increasing use of on-line information from the internet despite the variance in its quality and trustworthiness.1 On-line information is being increasingly used to promote patient self-management and enhance communication between health professionals and patients. There is evidence that people are using health information on the internet to make decisions about their health and in self-diagnosis, which may or may not lead them onto seeing a health professional. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 30, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Susan Waterworth, Michelle Honey Source Type: research
Activity kits as a first line intervention to care for individuals with dementia
Older adults with dementia experience difficulty communicating secondary to cognitive impairments. The cognitively intact patient states his or her needs directly, whereas cognitively impaired patients manifest behaviors such as agitation, wandering, and calling out.2 Restraints and sedation are some of the common measures utilized to manage these behaviors; however non-pharmacological interventions should be the first line of treatment.2,3 At Saint Joseph's Health (SJH), in northern New Jersey, nurses are encouraged to implement the SJH Therapeutic Activity Kit before these behaviors start. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 15, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Jennifer Racine Ricker, Maureen Mulligan Tags: NICHE Section Source Type: research
Does acute care for the elderly (ACE) unit decrease the incidence of falls?
To determine whether acute care for the elderly (ACE) units decrease the incidence of patient falls compared to general medical and surgical (GMS) units, a non-concurrent prospective study included individuals aged 65 and older admitted to ACE or GMS units over a 2-year span was done. There were 7069 admissions corresponded to 28,401 patient-days. A total of 149 falls were reported for an overall incidence rate (IR) of 5.2 falls per 1000 patient-days, 95% CI, 4.4/1000 –6.1/1000 patient-days. The falls IR ratio for patients in ACE unit compared to those in non-ACE units after adjusting for age, sex, prescribed psychotropi...
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 11, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Ahmed Abdalla, Mehul Adhaduk, Raad A. Haddad, Yanal Alnimer, Carlos F. R íos-Bedoya, Ghassan Bachuwa Tags: Feature Article Source Type: research
One Beat at a time
Since the birth of the Accountable Care Organizations and the push to reduce re-hospitalizations, many of us have been scrambling to amp up and provide additional services in our assisted living communities. This has caused many of us to think creatively and provide services that we never would have dreamed of in assisted living. The social model that assisted living once prided itself on has slowly taken a turn into a more medical model. As such, communities have been working to provide more intense nursing services to meet the many new demands they see on a daily basis. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 11, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Dawn Shourt Tags: AALNA Section Source Type: research
Does acute care for the elderly (ACE) unit decrease the incidence of falls?
To determine whether acute care for the elderly (ACE) units decrease the incidence of patient falls compared to general medical and surgical (GMS) units, a non-concurrent prospective study included individuals aged 65 and older admitted to ACE or GMS units over a 2-year span was done. There were 7069 admissions corresponded to 28,401 patient-days. A total of 149 falls were reported for an overall incidence rate (IR) of 5.2 falls per 1000 patient-days, 95% CI, 4.4/1000 –6.1/1000 patient-days. The falls IR ratio for patients in ACE unit compared to those in non-ACE units after adjusting for age, sex, prescribed psychotropi...
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 11, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Ahmed Abdalla, Mehul Adhaduk, Raad A. Haddad, Yanal Alnimer, Carlos F. R íos-Bedoya, Ghassan Bachuwa Tags: Feature Article Source Type: research
Putting proton pump inhibitors into perspective
One of the most pertinent geriatric drug therapy mantras is “It's a lot easier to start a drug than it is to stop a drug.” Medications that are considered to be safe and rather innocuous and medications that don't always have a clear indication for use are much more likely to be started, not closely evaluated or reconsidered, and be used for periods of t ime longer, sometimes much longer, than necessary. One of the best examples of excessive use of a class of medications is the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 10, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: William Simonson Tags: Pharmacy Column Source Type: research
Resident Choice: A Nursing Home Staff Perspective on Tensions and Resolutions
This study investigated nursing home staff experiences in realizing resident choice. Twenty-six qualitative staff interviews were conducted in an opportunistic sample from two Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Living Centers (CLCs, i.e., nursing homes) implementing the Green House Model. Thematic content analysis surfaced several key tensions at the intra-personal, inter-personal, and organizational levels. (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 9, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Jennifer A. Palmer, Victoria A. Parker, Dan Berlowitz, A. Lynn Snow, Christine W. Hartmann Tags: Feature Article Source Type: research
Health literacy and its correlates in informal caregivers of adults with memory loss
This secondary analysis examined health literacy among informal caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with memory loss and assessed correlates of caregiver health literacy using the Abilities, Skills and Knowledge Model. Caregiver health literacy (n = 91) was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Limited health literacy presented in 38.5% caregivers, with significantly low document literacy. Health literacy was associated bivariately with age, education, global cognitive function, executive function, and working memory (all ps (Source: Geriatric Nursing)
Source: Geriatric Nursing - November 9, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Yun Jiang, Susan M. Sereika, Jennifer H. Lingler, Lisa K. Tamres, Judith A. Erlen Tags: Feature Article Source Type: research
