Articles tagged with Geriatrics
Researchers found that taking certain antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives, or antipsychotic medications significantly increased veterans' risks for developing dementia. The study also revealed that veterans who used three classes of these medicines were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
Research found that having excess abdominal fat is associated with a higher risk of mental decline, while weight loss or gain does not impact cognition. The study also suggests combining waist measurements with BMI may be a more accurate way to predict cognitive decline.
A new study reveals that a police training program in age-related health can improve how officers assist older adults. The program addresses issues like dementia, wandering, and elder abuse, increasing empathy, patience, and knowledge of community resources.
Dr. Maura Brennan is being honored by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) for her dedication to education and training future leaders in geriatrics. Her work has helped bridge empathy between students and educators, inspiring interest in geriatrics across diverse professions.
The American Geriatrics Society announced Dr. Richard Allman's prestigious 2017 Henderson Lecture, focusing on leadership, research, education, and quality improvement in older adult care. Dr. Allman has extensive experience developing policy and programs for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dr. Resnick is a renowned nurse, researcher, and mentor recognized for her dedication to improving care for older adults. She has made significant contributions to gerontology research and education, particularly in the areas of exercise and mobility.
Dr. Fatima Sheikh, MD, CMD, MPH, is recognized for her outstanding work in post-acute and long-term care, as well as her dedication to mentoring a diverse team. She has championed programs to manage chronic conditions and advance care planning for older adults.
Dr. Sei Lee is recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to individualized care for older adults, including the development of the Lee Index mortality prediction index. He will deliver a plenary presentation on preventive care at the AGS 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting.
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) honored over 15 leading researchers, clinicians, and emerging health professionals for their outstanding contributions to high-quality, person-centered care for older adults. Recipients include researchers, clinicians, educators, and students who have made significant impacts in geriatrics.
The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting will showcase novel approaches to goals-oriented care, explore the future of Advance Care Planning, and highlight innovative dementia care models. The meeting will also feature renowned speakers, awards ceremonies, and expert discussions on policy priorities.
Studies presented at AGS17 show promising results for deprescribing benzodiazepines using tools for healthcare providers and education for older adults. A Patient-Facing Advance Care Planning website increased ACP documentation and engagement among older primary care patients.
Research reveals that hearing loss is a highly prevalent and important factor in communication between healthcare professionals and older adults, but it's largely overlooked. Studies show that offering hearing assistance can improve patients' understanding.
A study highlights the importance of increased funding for geriatrics education, citing a vital need for dedicated time and financial support. The Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACAs) program played a crucial role in training over 41,000 health professionals since 1998.
The American College of Surgeons has published comprehensive hospital-level surgical care standards for older adults, reflecting a shift toward interdisciplinary care. The new standards aim to improve the quality of geriatric surgery by addressing physiological changes related to aging and chronic diseases.
The American Geriatrics Society and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a public information campaign to help older adults and caregivers access resources for safely navigating the open road. The campaign provides actionable safe driving tips, conversation advice, and transportation alternatives to promote mobility ...
A new collaboration aims to find trans-Atlantic common ground in geriatrics for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. The initiative emphasizes the importance of holistic care and person-centered goals.
Researchers found that older adults with heavier chronic disease burdens and shorter original hospital stays are more likely to be readmitted within a week. Hospital strategies to ensure patients are healthy enough for discharge could help prevent early readmissions.
A study published by the American Geriatrics Society found that regular exercise can help prevent or delay disabilities that impact independent living. Researchers enrolled 1,635 adults aged 70-89 and compared two groups: one exercising regularly and the other receiving health workshops.
The AGS extends its hip fracture co-management program with a new national initiative that positions geriatricians as co-managers with orthopedic surgeons to improve care and health outcomes. The model reduces length of stay, re-admissions, and complications, while increasing older adults' chances of going home directly from the hospital.
Nurse practitioners have surpassed doctors in providing house calls, with over 1.13 million visits in 2013, according to a new study. However, regulations in many states are limiting the profession's growth and increasing demand for in-home care.
Two new articles emphasize the need for comprehensive approach to geriatric care, focusing on person-centered care and evidence-based changes. AGS prioritizes programs supporting high-quality care for older Americans, aiming to improve clinical care and workforce skills.
The American Geriatrics Society has emphasized the importance of strengthening clinical care and workforce development to support older Americans. The society outlines its vision for person-centered care, focusing on expanding healthcare options, ensuring quality in healthcare, and addressing geriatrician shortages.
Delirium is an often-undiagnosed syndrome affecting nearly 18% of long-term care residents, characterized by disorganized thinking and attention deficits. Prevention strategies include avoiding non-essential surgery, maintaining hydration, and minimizing medication exposure.
A study by Yale researchers found that older adults who visit the emergency department (ED) are at increased risk for disability and decline in physical abilities up to six months later. The discharged group had significantly higher disability scores than the control group, and were also more likely to be living in a nursing home.
Researchers found that taking an hour-long nap after lunch significantly improved mental health outcomes in older Chinese adults. The study revealed that napping for about an hour was associated with better performance on cognitive tests compared to shorter or longer naps.
A recent study found that moderate and high levels of physical activity are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and death from all causes among older adults. Exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight, lowers blood pressure, and improves the ratio of unhealthy to healthy cholesterol in the body.
Researchers found that complex reaction time accuracy, or 'brain speed,' is a key factor in determining an older person's ability to recover from a trip or stumble. This measure was shown to be more predictive of fall-related injuries than lower limb strength and perception of motion.
A study of 2,394 adults aged 77-101 found that poor vision worsened over time, leading to decreased physical activity and mental stimulation. The researchers suggest that preventing vision loss may also help delay physical and cognitive decline.
A study found that higher body mass index (BMI) and fat mass are significant markers of risk for stress- and urgency urinary incontinence (SUI and UUI) in older women. Women who lost at least 5% of their BMI or fat mass were less likely to experience new or persistent SUI over a three-year period.
The American Geriatrics Society has released new guidance on care and decision-making for 'unbefriended' older adults. The recommendations aim to support vulnerable individuals while protecting others from becoming unbefriended as they age.
Researchers found that participating in social activities like hobby clubs and volunteer groups can delay the decline in older adults' ability to function. Women who engaged in these activities were less likely to experience a decline, while men who participated in hobby clubs maintained their ability to function.
A recent study found that 80% of Chinese-American grandparents who cared for their grandchildren did not experience negative effects. In fact, they reported higher levels of happiness and lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to those who didn't care for their grandchildren.
Limited awareness and physician concerns about patient reactions contribute to the continuation of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) at the end of life. Emphasizing the benefits of stopping PIMs, such as reduced pill burden, may increase their discontinuation.
Research found that healthy lifestyle habits like exercising, eating a healthy diet, and staying socially connected can potentially compress the period of disability in older adults before death. However, factors such as smoking, being inactive, and unhealthy diets were associated with longer periods of disability.
A recent study found that personalized primary care programs can improve daily functioning in older adults, particularly those with higher levels of education. After six months, participants in the treatment groups experienced fewer problems compared to the control group, but further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Researchers found that current testing procedures are only 77% accurate in predicting driving safety for people with dementia, highlighting the need for better tools to assess their ability to drive safely. Healthcare professionals should work closely with older adults and caregivers to determine when it's time to stop driving.
A new study found that volunteering regularly over time may have benefits for older adults' memory and physical health. Volunteering reduces the risk of cognitive problems by 27%, even among those with other risk factors.
A new study reports that two-thirds of older inmates experience at least one distressing health symptom, such as chronic disease or emotional suffering. The researchers suggest the need for comprehensive programs to assess, treat, and manage geriatric conditions to help older adults while incarcerated.
The American Geriatrics Society has released a virtual journal issue featuring 20 seminal articles that have shaped geriatric research since the new millennium. The studies focus on topics such as cognition, physical disabilities, frailty, and medication use, and have had significant impacts on eldercare expertise.
Perls is recognized for his research on exceptional longevity, which reveals strong family clustering, compressed disability, and a genetic influence on survival that increases with age. He has published extensively on the subject and is a vocal critic of the anti-aging industry.
A new peer mentoring program, developed by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, aims to enhance early career gerontological nursing faculty. The program has shown promising results, with 64.7% of mentors and 72.7% of mentees finding value in it.
A study developed a prediction score to help healthcare professionals identify older adults at risk of developing pneumonia. The seven critical factors include age, chronic lung disease, smoking, and body mass index. This scoring system may encourage preventive measures such as vaccination and quitting smoking.
Researchers found a link between poor physical performance tests and increased dementia risk in people aged 90 and older. The study suggests that testing walking and standing balance may help predict dementia risk among the 'oldest-old'.
Researchers found poor standing balance and 4-meter walk test performances strongly associated with late-age dementia. The study suggests that impaired physical performance may be an early sign of developing late-age dementia.
Researchers found that people with probable dementia who had not been diagnosed were more likely to engage in potentially dangerous activities. Healthcare practitioners can better address safety concerns by asking older adults about their activities.
Researchers found that some older adults, known as 'adapters,' live longer and healthier lives despite higher disease burdens. These individuals exhibit high vigor levels and a unique coping mechanism that enables them to thrive.
Older adults who engage in more than 20 leisure activities per week are less likely to experience post-operative delirium. Research suggests that reading, emailing, and playing computer games can reduce the risk of delirium following surgery.
The American Geriatrics Society will continue hosting prestigious scientific conferences on emerging issues in geriatrics, focusing on multimorbidity and developing actionable agendas. The NIH-funded series aims to improve health outcomes for older adults through collaboration and research.
A new study found that video consultation technology brings together nursing home staff and hospital-based clinical experts to manage behavioral challenges associated with dementia. The program, Project ECHO-AGE, resulted in significant reductions in the use of physical restraints and antipsychotic medication among patients.
A study published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that doctors and non-doctors in the US experience similar levels of hospital care and intensive care unit stays at the end of life. More than 46% of doctors enrolled in hospice care compared to 43.2% of non-doctors, suggesting a shift towards more palliative care.
Dr. Callahan has spent over two decades developing new models of care to improve the health of older adults with internists or primary care physicians. His research emphasizes team-based care, social services, and practical strategies for primary care physicians.
Researchers found that frailty and depression are intertwined in older couples, with frailer individuals more likely to become depressed and vice versa. This study highlights the importance of increasing physical activity, social engagement, and mutual support for seniors living together.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that frail older women with six or more chronic health conditions are twice as likely to have a lower quality of life. Managing chronic health problems well may help these women enjoy a better quality of life.
Researchers found that older adults with vascular health conditions, depression, difficulty performing daily activities, and multiple chronic diseases were at higher risk of traumatic brain injury. In contrast, sedentary lifestyles or self-reported alcohol problems did not increase the risk of TBI.
The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting presented numerous high-profile sessions and symposia focusing on de-prescribing medication in older adults, improving interprofessional team communication, and strategies to reduce cardiovascular outcomes in skilled nursing facilities. Bench research findings from 2015 will be applied to bedside care ...
Programs to prevent inappropriate medication use, reduce unnecessary medical procedures, and link vulnerable adults to Medicare are highlighted at the AGS16 meeting. These initiatives aim to improve quality of care and address population growth needs for older adults.
A systematic review of studies found associations between poor oral health and increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly among those with dementia. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential causal link between oral health and cognitive status.
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that transitions in care for older adults with dementia are linked to medication errors, hospital readmissions, and increased risk of death. Receiving coordinated care and a long-term care plan can help reduce unnecessary transitions.
A randomized controlled trial found that practicing tai chi significantly reduced the risk of injury-causing falls in older adults compared to leg strengthening exercises. After six months and a year of training, participants who practiced tai chi were 50% less likely to experience an injury-causing fall.
A NYU Nursing researcher developed the Dementia Symptom Management at Home (DSM-H) Program to enhance home healthcare providers' knowledge and confidence in caring for people with dementia. The program improved pain, depression, and neuropsychiatric symptom knowledge and attitudes among clinicians.