Last update:

Geriatric palliative care news

Mobility tests can tell doctors a lot about how you're aging, but there are many other factors

Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy aging and even predictors of longevity.

Telemedicine intervention fails to reduce nursing home hospitalizations, study finds

Implementing an intersectoral, telemedicine-based intervention in nursing homes did not lead to a statistically significant reduction in patient hospitalizations, according to a prospective, multicenter cluster-randomized ...

App-based support improves dementia caregivers' well-being

As the prevalence of dementia increases, family members continue to be the primary caregivers for loved ones coping with the disease. Some of the most distressing aspects of dementia are behavioral symptoms—such as agitation ...

Chronic pain is missing from America's heat warnings

When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: Drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out something that shapes ...

Poor housing conditions can raise fall risk for older adults

Older adults living in homes with electrical or plumbing problems, insufficient space or poor lighting are more likely to experience a fall, according to a new study published Aug. 5, 2026, in the open-access journal PLOS ...

One in six hospital beds filled by dementia patients

The study is the most comprehensive review of dementia hospitalizations ever undertaken in the UK. The researchers outline how delayed discharges, lack of communication among NHS staff and hospital environments unsuitable ...

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 ...

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 ...