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Geriatric palliative care news

Hip fracture in older adults is far more than an orthopedic injury

Nearly half of the oldest adults died within one year of sustaining a hip fracture. A new doctoral thesis from Umeå University shows that not only the risk of sustaining a hip fracture, but also mortality following the injury ...

Dehydration, UTIs and cognitive health: Getting enough to drink is complicated for people with brain disorders

For older adults with dementia or Parkinson's disease, staying hydrated can be more complicated than simply drinking more water.

Home sensor system could spot loneliness in older adults

Loneliness is common in older adults, and the mental and physical health risks associated with the condition are difficult for medical professionals to recognize and treat. To address this need, researchers from Virginia ...

Multimorbidity identified in most Japanese home care patients

As Japan's population ages, more older adults are receiving home-based medical care, in which physicians regularly visit patients who have difficulty going to clinics or hospitals. Although multimorbidity has long been common ...

Hospital delirium a 'red flag' for severe health decline

A single episode of delirium—a state of confusion and agitation—in hospitalized older adults is a significant risk factor for other serious health complications including fractures, stroke and sepsis, a University of Queensland ...

Should people over 75 continue colonoscopies?

The American Cancer Society recommends screening for colorectal cancer in adults beginning at age 45 and continuing through age 75. However, adults over the age of 75 with a history of precancerous polyps—also known as adenomas—are ...

The dark side of music as 'therapy'

A violinist plays in a cancer ward. A playlist loops in the waiting room. A surgeon hums along to the radio mid-operation. We assume, almost without thinking, that music helps. But what if it doesn't—or worse, what if it ...

Do genes dictate how lifestyle choices impact aging?

Lifestyle-behavioral factors and socioeconomic status play an important role in shaping healthy aging, but their effects may differ depending on the individual's DNA, according to a new international study led by Adelaide ...

How life stories shape the path to assisted death

The debate surrounding the provision of assistance to those wishing to die has long centered on abstract notions such as individual choice and personal autonomy. What is often missing from the discussion, says sociologist ...