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Geriatric palliative care news

New guidelines help long-term care communities support residents' intimacy and dignity

Intimacy doesn't disappear in long-term care, but clear guidance on how to support it often does. A new paper outlines a practical framework for how organizations can move from uncertainty and inconsistency to a structured, ...

Study finds major gaps in dementia care across Mississippi

Some 80% of Mississippi counties have no adult day service centers, and even counties that do have centers cannot meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers, a new University of Mississippi-led study indicates. ...

Aging well in a digital world

As Australia and the world face rapidly aging populations, technology is increasingly promoted as the answer to helping older people live safely, independently and well—but experts warn that innovation alone is not enough.

Novel in-hospital screening method detects cognitive issues

More than 40% of older people admitted to U.S. hospitals have dementia, yet only half of them have been diagnosed with memory and cognitive difficulty. Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators have developed ...

Choosing safer diabetes medications for older adults

Older adults with type 2 diabetes face a difficult trade-off: they are among the most vulnerable to medication-related harms yet are often underrepresented in the clinical trials that guide treatment decisions. A new study ...

Voting is linked to living longer

A new study co-authored by Femida Handy of the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania finds that, among older adults, voting predicts a lower risk of mortality for up to 15 years.

Greater optimism tied to 15% lower dementia risk over 14 years

The more optimistic a person is, the lower their risk of developing dementia, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The research, published April 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics ...

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 ...

Robotic pets help dementia patients recover and return home

For a person living with dementia, a hospital stay can be a terrifying whirlwind of strange faces, loud noises and confusing tests. This disorientation often leads to a condition called delirium, which can slow down recovery ...

Heart attack study reveals 'survival paradox'

Research from the University of Leicester and NIHR challenges the "one-size-fits-all" approach to heart attack care, adding critical nuance to the debate on sex disparities. A new study involving more than 900,000 patients ...

For women over 60, muscle strength matters

You don't need to look like a bodybuilder, but for healthy aging, maintaining muscle strength is likely just as important as getting enough aerobic activity, according to the findings of a University at Buffalo-led study ...

A crisis in the making: Can America afford the elderly?

An increasing number of Americans are living well beyond the average life expectancy. It presents new and complex challenges about how to care for a vulnerable, often ignored demographic that is aging largely on its own.

Commonly used drugs could help prevent delirium after surgery

A new study has found that several commonly used drugs could significantly reduce the risk of delirium in older people following surgery. Delirium—a sudden state of confusion and memory problems—affects around one in seven ...

Smart vest to prevent hypothermia deaths in elderly

Scientists have developed a smart textile vest which can monitor body temperature and detect risk of hypothermia in older people. The technology aims to mitigate the increased risk that elderly people face due to losing body ...

Study shows that key protein can slow aging

The United States is a rapidly aging country. By the year 2050, nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be 65 or older, and many will live into their 90s and beyond. This leads to health care and social support concerns and also begs ...