Self- Versus Informant-Reported Cognitive Decline

May 14, 2013

Cognitive problems like confusion or forgetfulness can cause great concern for older adults and their families, who are often concerned that these complaints may be early signs of dementia. Although these cognitive complaints may be caused by neurological impairments, they are often the result of other psychological distress such as anxiety or depression. When clinical [...]

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Promising Findings from Community-Based Health Program for Older Chinese Immigrants

May 14, 2013

Older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States have higher rates of chronic physical illness, and of comorbidity (the presence of two or more co-occurring conditions), than the general older adult population. Such health disparities may be influenced by many overlapping factors, such as linguistic and cultural barriers, a lack of community resources, [...]

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Interdisciplinary Acute Care Team Leads to Improved Hospitalization Outcomes

May 14, 2013

Inpatient hospitalization can be a period of high risk for older adults, with an increased likelihood of falls, infections, functional decline, and institutionalization. The personal and economic costs of readmissions, prolonged hospital stays, and hospital-acquired infections and injuries are significant, generating great interest in developing intervention programs to minimize the risks associated with hospitalization. An [...]

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How Prevalent Is Resident Aggression toward Nursing Staff?

May 14, 2013

Aggressive behaviors from residents toward nursing home staff—or resident-to-staff aggression (RSA)—is one of the greater safety concerns among the long-term care workforce, but has received relatively minimal research attention. While many initiatives in the last several years have tackled the crucial topic of keeping nursing home residents safe from aggression, RSA is a poorly understood [...]

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Discrepancies in End-of-Life Care Preferences

May 14, 2013

For elderly patients during the last six months of hospital care, both families and hospital professionals are seeking to improve the lines of communication for desired end-of-life (EOL) practices through advance care planning (ACP). A recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine exposed the discrepancy between EOL care preferences elected by health care professionals and the [...]

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Computer Use & Cognitive Testing: What Is the Relationship between Experience & Cognitive Ability?

May 14, 2013

Computer-based cognitive tests are being used by researchers at an increasing rate, and may be particularly useful in population-based clinical assessments. However, it is difficult to determine the validity and usefulness of computer-based testing due to the likelihood that experience and skill with computers may significantly influence test performance. A study in the Journals of [...]

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Barriers to Employment for Low-Income Older Adults

May 14, 2013

Older adults are a growing segment of the US workforce, with many deferring retirement or returning to the workforce in the face of declining retirement security. While many older adults seek new employment to address financial struggles, certain social factors make the job search difficult for low-income older adults. An article in the Journal of [...]

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When Caregiving Is Lonely

May 14, 2013

Marilyn’s husband of 40 years has been in hospice for seven weeks. Dave’s imminent death, foretold by his hospice admission, now appears to be nowhere in sight. Marilyn is exhausted and a bit shocked that he’s still here.
Their daughter Diane flew in to be with them for two weeks, but had to return to her [...]

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What Will Consumers Pay for Technology to Enhance Independence?

April 8, 2013

The growth of the older adult population and the rising costs of providing care have led to great interest in the development of new assistive technology. So-called quality of life technologies (QoLT)—such as computerized medication dispensing and tracking devices, glucometers and blood pressure monitors, and other assistive technologies—may soon make important contributions to the well-being [...]

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What Direct Care Staff Think about “Good Care”

April 8, 2013

Direct care workers play a crucial role in the provision of nursing home care, providing the bulk of hands-on care for residents and serving as the front line for identifying and dealing with the emotional and practical issues that arise in the care setting. Thus, direct care providers are crucial for implementing organizational guidelines and [...]

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