A Review of Falls Prevention in Acute and Chronic-Care Hospitals

This article organizes the limited research evaluations of falls prevention strategies in hospitals. A wealth of information exists concerning successful falls prevention in the community and in residential institutions, however very few studies have been done on older adults in hospitals. Researchers find this small body of data to be mixed. While no study showed a reduction in the number of people falling, a few reports noted an overall percentage decrease in the amount of falls. For more information, see article by clicking here.

For information on Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging’s

SAFE-TI: A Falls Reduction Program, please visit www.matherlifeways.com/safeti.

Negotiated Risk Agreements and Aging-in-Place

A Negotiated Risk Agreement can facilitate a positive aging-in-place experience. It allows assisted living organizations to take into account the risks associated with their housing accommodations while also considering the personal choices and preferences of their older residents. For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

Family Caregiving Support Locator Made Available Nationwide

The National Center on Caregiving has launched the web-based Family Care Navigator. This online tool provides comprehensive guidance to family caregivers in all 50 states by helping them learn about local support programs. For more information, see the Navigator webpage by clicking here.

Conversational Guide for Boomers and their Older Loved Ones

Home Instead, Inc. recently issued a discussion guide for children of older adults designed to engage them in conversations about sensitive issues related to aging. The guide touches on routine topics such as housecleaning, as well as more difficult ones like dating. For additional information, see the guide by clicking here.

Why are Disability Rates Dropping among Older Americans?

This article seeks to explain why the disability rate among older Americans has dropped in the past couple of decades. The authors review the available research evidence and analyze national data trends on the need for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). They conclude that medical technology advances and socioeconomic changes are responsible for the drop in disability rates.  For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

For information on Mather LifeWays Insitute on Aging's Powerful Tools for Caregivers Online, please visit www.matherlifeways.com/ptc. 

Exploring the Challenges of Palliative Care for Older Adults with Dementia

This paper examines research findings on the care of older adults with dementia during the terminal phase of their illness. The report identifies common barriers to providing quality palliative support and offers best practices in palliative dementia care. For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

Communication Between Nurses, Patient, and Family at End of life

This paper addresses the insufficient research on communication between the nurse, patient, and family at end of life. Researchers examined the nurse/patient relationship during the experience of dying in hospice. The findings suggest that using a team approach creates a better end-of-life environment. They also recommend that providers receive more information on end-of-life care, and that family members be encouraged to maximize relationships with their loved one until death. For more information, see article by clicking here.

Caregivers Ability to Cope with End-of-Life Care

This qualitative study identifies five factors that influence a family’s ability to cope with end-of-life care. They are: the caregiver’s approach to life, the patient's illness experience, the patient's recognition of the caregiver’s contribution to his or her care, the quality of the relationship between the caregiver and the dying person, and the caregiver's sense of security. For more information, see article by clicking here.

Transitioning Residents from Nursing Homes to the Community

Journal of the American Geriatric Society (April 2008)

This article examines nursing home residents’ desire to transition out of a care facility, their perceptions of their ability to live independently, and the feasibility of their transition. The majority of these residents prefer to live in the community and nearly 25 percent of respondents believed they were capable of returning to their home environment. This study highlights the complex decision-making process involved in this change and stresses the need to systematically assess the individual’s status. For more information, see article by clicking here.

Neighborhood Determinants of Walking in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

More than 2,500 residents of Montreal, Canada, aged 45 years or older, were recruited to participate in a 20-minute telephone survey. These surveys were matched to observational data on the respondent’s neighborhood’s active-living potential. The results showed that higher numbers of destinations (e.g., stores, restaurants, libraries, etc.) in the immediate area increased the likelihood of walking. This suggests that neighborhood structure might be the most important motivator for engaging older adults in active lifestyles; even more so than recreational promotion or demographic related factors. For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

Supportive Technology and Design for Health Aging Conference

This upcoming conference introduces professionals in gerontology, health care, long-term care, and architecture and design to technology and facilities planning that promote quality of life for older adults through improved living environments. The conference takes place in Stevenson, WA on June 25th and 26th. For more information, see announcement by clicking here.

The Role of Age and Retirement in Mortality

This study followed 16,827 men and women who were either gainfully employed or retired and who had not been previously diagnosed with stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease, or diabetes. Researchers wanted to see if the age a person retired played a role in their mortality risk. Their findings suggest that early retirement may increase the death rate in apparently healthy persons. For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

Vitamin D has Potential to Protect against Depression in Older Adults

A new review of nutrition research explores the link between vitamin D deficiency and cognitive functioning. The authors conclude that vitamin D does play an important role in brain development and activity. They suggest that at-risk groups, such as older adults, be targeted for vitamin D supplements as a preventive measure for depression-like symptoms. For more information, see abstract by clicking here.

Weight and Mortality in Older Adults

This study provides a different perspective on the relationship between weight and morbidity in older adults. Using data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal population-based cohort of older adults, researchers found that heavier individuals in this group were not any more likely to die early or experience debilitating health problems than those considered to be of “normal” weight. They conclude that the current definition of a "healthy" weight for older adults is too narrow. For more information, see article by clicking here.

The New and Improved aging in action

After receiving important feedback from our readership through the aging in action survey in January, we are ready to launch a new format for aging in action. The improved format will provide more detailed analysis and summaries of the latest aging-related research, unique and cutting edge programs, and aging policy and legislation updates. We hope you find it useful.  As always, we encourage any feedback you would like to provide by emailing askaia@matherlifeways.com.