Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
David Sunkersing, Finbarr C. Martin, Paul Sullivan, Derek Bell
Summary: This study explored the care and support networks of community-dwelling older people who accessed a falls prevention service. The findings highlight the importance of informal carers, friends, and healthcare professionals in caring for frail individuals. The networks reported by patients and healthcare professionals showed congruence in makeup, with a greater emphasis on helper/carers in patients' reports. These findings emphasize the multidisciplinary makeup of care and support networks, which can be targeted by healthcare professionals to better support frail individuals.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Breanne Hobden, Elise Mansfield, Megan Freund, Matthew Clapham, Rob Sanson-Fisher
Summary: This study examined older community-dwelling individuals' perceptions of receiving patient-centered care during healthcare consultations. The results showed that older adults were most satisfied with care that involved respectful communication, but less satisfied with care that involved asking about treatment goals and expectations, as well as the level of involvement in treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lyndsay DeGroot, Noelle Pavlovic, Nancy Perrin, Nisha A. Gilotra, Sydney M. Dy, Patricia M. Davidson, Sarah L. Szanton, Martha Abshire Saylor
Summary: This study describes the palliative care needs of community dwelling, physically frail persons with heart failure (HF). The results show that physically frail individuals have higher unmet palliative care needs. Therefore, implementing assessments for frailty and palliative care needs may help identify which patients require further evaluation and follow-up.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jenny Alwin, Bjorn W. Karlson, Magnus Husberg, Per Carlsson, Niklas Ekerstad
Summary: The study aimed to describe informal care activities and estimate the societal cost of caring for frail elderly people in Sweden. Results showed that informal caregivers provided an average of 245 hours of care over three months, with a mean cost of approximately 18,000 SEK (euro1878) over the same period. The total annual societal costs of informal care for community-dwelling frail elderly people in Sweden were estimated to be approximately 11,000 million SEK (euro1150 million), highlighting the significant economic value of informal caregiving and the importance of supporting informal caregivers in society.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yuanyuan Fu, Xiaowen Ji
Summary: This study examines the relationship between loneliness, productive engagement, sleep-wake disturbances, and depression. The findings highlight the different effects of various dimensions of productive engagement on loneliness and depression. These results provide valuable insights for intervention programs and social work practices aimed at reducing depressive symptoms in older adults.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yanxia Lu, Wee Shiong Lim, Xia Jin, Ma Schwe Zin Nyunt, Tamas Fulop, Qi Gao, Su Chi Lim, Anis Larbi, Tze Pin Ng
Summary: Dysregulated insulin secretion may play an important role in age-related and diabetes-related sarcopenia.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Robert Briggs, Anna McDonough, Graham Ellis, Kathleen Bennett, Desmond O'Neill, David Robinson
Summary: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) aims to determine the medical, psychological, and functional capabilities of older adults in order to develop a coordinated care plan. Studies suggest that CGA may reduce the risk of unplanned hospital admissions in community-dwelling, frail, older adults.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sarah Kosakowski, Allyn Benintendi, Pooja Lagisetty, Marc R. Larochelle, Amy S. B. Bohnert, Angela R. Bazzi
Summary: Patients on long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain described generally adverse experiences with opioid tapers. These tapers can lead to significant physical, emotional, and social consequences, often reducing trust and engagement in healthcare. Patient-provider relationships and communication play a crucial role in patients' perceptions of the quality and outcomes of opioid tapers.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Anam Ahmed, Maria E. T. C. van den Muijsenbergh, Janne C. Mewes, Walter P. Wodchis, Hubertus J. M. Vrijhoef
Summary: The study suggests that for integrated care programmes (ICPs) for community-dwelling frail older people, establishing multidisciplinary teams of competent healthcare providers that provide person-centered care, closely work together, and communicate effectively with other stakeholders is essential. Additionally, involving older people and informal caregivers in the care process, as well as ensuring financial support, efficient use of information technology and organizational alignment, are crucial for the success of ICPs.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Pengkun Song, Qingqing Man, Yuqian Li, Shanshan Jia, Dongmei Yu, Jian Zhang, Gangqiang Ding
Summary: The study in elderly population in North China found that a balanced dietary pattern was associated with a decreased risk of low HDL-C, while a Western dietary pattern showed a negative association. On the other hand, adherence to a thrifty dietary pattern was linked to an increased risk of low HDL-C, especially in those with a lower BMI. The findings highlight the importance of developing specific dietary improvement plans based on nutritional status for elderly individuals with dyslipidemia in North China.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sophie M. Weiss, Matthew Castelo, Barbara Liu, Mireille Norris
Summary: To address the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre modified its fall prevention program (FPP) to be delivered virtually. This study compared patients assessed virtually with those assessed in-person to examine equitable accessibility. A retrospective chart review compared virtual patients assessed during the pandemic with historic in-person patients. The study found that virtual patients were similarly frail as in-person controls, but had increased use of walking aids, medications, assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and cognitive impairment.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lucia Prieto-Contreras, Francisco M. Martinez-Arnau, David Sancho-Cantus, Laura Cubero-Plazas, Pilar Perez-Ros
Summary: This study aims to assess the prevalence of falls in community-dwelling frail older people aged 70 years and older, and identifies screening strategies based on comprehensive geriatric assessments to detect increased risk of falling and recurrent falling. The study found that among the 229 participants, 121 (54.9%) had fallen in the previous 12 months, and 20 of these (16.5%) were recurrent fallers (>= 2 falls). A score of 20 points or more on the Falls Efficacy Scale International is predictive of falling, with a sensitivity of 51.7% and a specificity of 73.9%. Polypharmacy, Short Physical Performance Battery score of 8 points or less, and Falls Efficacy Scale International score of 20 points or more can be used to screen for recurrent falling.
Article
Rehabilitation
Sheeba Rosewilliam, Colin J. J. Greaves, Arokkiyasamy Selvanayagam, Andrew A. A. Soundy
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a volunteer-led balance programme for older adults. A feasibility cluster RCT with focus groups was conducted in faith-based institutions. The results showed that the programme was feasible and acceptable in one geographical area but requires evaluation in diverse communities.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Susanna Gentili, Fabio Riccardi, Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti, Paola Scarcella, Alessandro Stievano, Maria Grazia Proietti, Gennaro Rocco, Giuseppe Liotta
Summary: The worldwide aging and increase of chronic disease have led to an increased risk of admission to Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities. This study aimed to evaluate the admission rate to LTC facilities for older adults and identify factors associated with these admissions. The findings suggest that access to LTC facilities is related to moderate disability and a lack of social support.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Bonnie M. Vest, Brian M. Quigley, Denise F. Lillvis, Caroline Horrigan-Maurer, Rebecca S. Firth, Anne B. Curtis, Jeffrey M. Lackner
Summary: This study compared the interpretations and responses to AF symptoms between patients and providers. It found that there were differences in treatment goals, symptom importance, and impact between patients and providers. The study also highlighted the unmet need for education and support expressed by patients.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
