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UrduAs the toll of COVID-19 continues to climb, newly released poll data suggest an opportunity to use the pandemic as a prompt for discussing and documenting older adults’ wishes for their care, if they get seriously ill or injured for any reason.
Tag: Older Adults
One in 10 older adults have gotten a “pandemic pet,” poll finds
A lot of the attention around “pandemic pets” has focused on families with children, but a new poll shows that older adults also got in on the trend. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, 10% of all people between the ages of 50 and 80 got a new pet between March 2020 and January 2021.
Nearly one-third of older thyroid patients take medications that interfere with thyroid function tests
Nearly one-third of adults age 65 and older who take thyroid hormone also take medications that are known to interfere with thyroid function tests, according to a study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.
Big shift seen in high-risk older adults’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination
Last fall, many older adults were on the fence about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a poll taken in October. But a new poll taken in late January shows a large uptick in positive attitudes, including among people over 50 who are Black, Hispanic or in fair or poor health.
Effects of Laughter Therapy on Life Satisfaction and Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes in Turkey: A Parallel Group Randomized Controlled Trial
Researchers sought to determine if laughter therapy could make a difference in the life satisfaction and loneliness of older adults in a nursing home in Turkey. Each laughter therapy session consisted of four parts: warm-up exercises, deep breathing exercises and…
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every other Wednesday.
Most older adults haven’t gotten checked for hearing loss, with women less likely than men to be screened or tested
Eighty percent of Americans over 50 say their primary care doctor hasn’t asked about their hearing in the past two years, and nearly as many haven’t had their hearing checked by a professional in that same time, according to a new national poll report.
American College of Surgeons verifies first hospital that meets its standardized quality criteria for geriatric surgery
The American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program (ACS GSV) has announced that Unity Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., has achieved Level 1—Comprehensive Excellence verification status, which recognizes its commitment to providing optimal care for its older adult surgical patients by meeting the GSV’s program standards.
Older people often incorrectly assume medicines don’t have potential side effects
When physicians failed to verbally provide information about potential side effects, older people incorrectly assumed that about 55% of their prescribed medications had none. When they did provide the information, patients incorrectly assumed there were no side effects for 22% of the medications.
Older adults and antibiotics: Study shows healthy attitudes but unhealthy practices
While most adults over 50 understand that overuse of antibiotics is a problem, and say they’re cautious about taking the drugs, a sizable minority have used antibiotics for something other than their original purpose, and appear to think the drugs could help treat colds, which are caused by viruses not bacteria.
Poll shows inequality among older adults in ability to isolate a COVID-19-positive person at home, or get outside
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 should isolate themselves from the other people they live with. But a new poll suggests that nearly one in five older adults don’t have the ability to do this – and that there are disparities by race, ethnicity, income and health status.
UNH Expert Stresses Importance of Exercise For Seniors During Pandemic
During the pandemic, many people have been getting less physical activity and becoming more sedentary, especially seniors who are homebound for safety reasons. Experts at the University of New Hampshire say it is more important than ever for older adults to find safe and accessible ways to remain physically active to help strengthen muscles, improve balance, enhance their immune system and reduce stress while being safe at home.
45% of adults over 65 lack online medical accounts that could help them sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations
As the vaccination of older adults against COVID-19 begins across the country, new poll data suggests that many of them don’t yet have access to the “patient portal” online systems that could make it much easier for them to schedule a vaccination appointment. In all, 45% of adults aged 65 to 80 had not set up an account with their health provider’s portal system.
New Report Estimates 10,000 People 65 and Older Living with Dementia in the Nation’s Capital
A report released today estimates that about 10,000 Washington, D.C. residents 65 and older are living with dementia, a general term for a range of memory loss disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Top 2021 pandemic tips for older adults (and the people who love them)
As the vaccine becomes available to older adults, and case of COVID-19 surge, a list of key tips and relevant links for older adults about getting through this winter safely and healthily.
Why Older Adults Use (And Do Not Use) Password Managers
Password managers are considered highly effective tools for increasing online security. A study presented at the 2019 Symposium On Usable Privacy and Security surveyed a predominately young population about their use of password managers, finding several barriers to adoption and effective usage.…
Costs, COVID-19 risk and delays top older adults’ concerns about seeking emergency care, poll finds
Even before the pandemic, older Americans had concerns about seeking emergency care because of the costs they might face, the amount of time they might spend in the waiting room and more. But the risk of catching the novel coronavirus in the emergency department added to those worries, according to a national poll of people ages 50 to 80.
A surgeon’s birthday may be a dicey day for older patients
Older people who undergo emergency surgeries on their operating surgeon’s birthday may be more likely to die within a month than patients who go through similar procedures on other days, a new UCLA-led study suggests.
New study finds fish oil omega-3s EPA and DHA work differently on chronic inflammation
A small randomized study led by researchers at Tufts University suggests the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have different effects on chronic inflammation in older adults. Both omega-3s are found in fish oil.
FAU Receives NIH Grant to Enhance Social Engagement in Older Adults
FAU researchers have received a two-year, $675,000 grant from the National Institute of Aging to test a mathematical model designed to optimize social and physical engagement in this population. The objective of the study is to identify strategies that will facilitate and enhance social interactions with and among older adults and counter age-related decline by pinpointing activities that will allow the social life of older adults to flourish.
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Launches Community Resource Center for Aging to Support Older Adults and Caregivers
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital launches the Community Resource Center for Aging, a call center to help older adults and their caregivers navigate everything from transportation to housing to grocery delivery.
Over half of adults over 50 say they’ll get vaccinated against COVID-19, but many will want to wait, poll finds
A new poll of adults ages 50 to 80 suggests that achieving the widespread vaccination against COVID-19 needed to protect this high-risk group and end the pandemic will be an uphill climb, and require clear, transparent communication from health providers and others.
Study: 34% of older adults in the U.S. are prescribed potentially inappropriate drugs, raising health care costs by hundreds
The prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to older adults is linked to increased hospitalizations, and it costs patients, on average, more than $450 per year, according to a new University at Buffalo study.
Rush Receives $3.5 Million in Funding to Address Behavioral Health Disparities in Older Adults
As the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging continues its commitment to improving the health of older adults, others are taking notice. Rush was designated a Center of Excellence Behavioral Health Disparities in Older Adults by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Clashing medications can put older adults at risk, but many haven’t had a pharmacist check for safety concerns
Two-thirds of older adults rely on at least two prescription drugs, and more than half take two or more non-prescription drugs or supplements. But a new poll shows that most haven’t connected with a pharmacist to check for potential clashes among their prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and supplements, or the potential to save money by switching to lower-cost options.
Move More or Sit Less: How to Maintain a Healthy Brain
Worldwide, a person is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds. Regular physical activity and limited sedentary behavior (i.e., time spent sitting or lying down) are two important lifestyle strategies for maintaining good brain health. However, we do not know which…
Doctors Get Plenty of Advice on Starting Treatment. This Could Help Them Know When to Stop.
Decades of effort have improved the chances that patients will get the scans, routine tests and medicines that can do them the most good – and avoid the ones that won’t help them at all.
But in the push toward evidence-based medicine, a new study says, a key step has mostly gotten overlooked: helping doctors stop or scale back – or deintensify – treatment once it has started.
Strong and Fit Older Adults Have Younger, Less Stiff Arteries
Large arteries like the aorta are flexible tubes that should easily stretch to accommodate blood flow. They tend to get less flexible with age and chronic medical conditions, a process called arterial stiffening that strongly predicts future cardiovascular disease like…
Mail delays may affect medication supply for nearly 1 in 4 Americans over 50
The timeliness of mail delivery may affect access to medication for many middle-aged and older adults, according to a new analysis of data from a national poll of people aged 50 to 80.
Nearly one in four people in this age group said they receive at least one medication by mail, but that percentage rises to 29% when the poll results are limited to people who take at least one prescription medication.
Rush System Leads The Way in Age-Friendly Care
After Rush University Medical Center was designated as an Age-Friendly Health System, the American Hospital Association developed a case study that took a deep dive into the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging and its successful impact on older adult health care.
Poll: Telehealth visits have skyrocketed for older adults, but some concerns & barriers remain
One in four older Americans had a virtual medical visit in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of them by video, a new telehealth poll finds. That’s much higher than the 4% of people over 50 who said they had ever had a virtual visit with a doctor in a similar poll taken in 2019.
Acupunch Exercise Program Development and Feasibility Evaluation for Older Adults
Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to develop the Healthy Beat Acupunch (HBA) exercise program and evaluate its feasibility for community older adults. Design Stage I: The Delphi technique was used to consult 16 experts to develop the program. Stage II: A preexperimental,…
Family relationships impact cognitive health of older Chinese immigrants
A study by researchers at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research provides new evidence of the impact of family relationships on the cognitive health of older Chinese immigrants in the United States.
Most older adults say they’ve experienced ageism, but majority still hold positive attitudes toward aging, poll finds
More than 80% of older adults in a new poll say they commonly experience at least one form of ageism in their day-to-day lives. Many say they routinely experience three or more forms, and these older adults were much more likely to have poor mental and physical health. But despite all this, the poll also suggests that most older adults hold positive attitudes toward aging.
Rutgers Institute for Health Names Mariana Figueiro Director for New Center for Healthy Aging
Mariana Figueiro, director of the Lighting Research Center, joins the Rutgers University community on Sept. 1 to lead two new programs focused on aging and on sleep and circadian research.
Planning for a growing elderly population
A new study investigated the prevalence of activity limitations among older adults in 23 low- and middle-income countries, to help policymakers prepare for the challenges associated with the world’s aging population.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Reduces Hypoglycemia in Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
Results from a six-month, multi-site clinical trial called the Wireless Innovation for Seniors with Diabetes Mellitus (WISDM) Study Group have been published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Multi-ethnic study suggests vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age
A new, multi-ethnic study from researchers at Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center found adults aged 54-76 with low circulating vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those with adequate levels, suggesting vitamin K may offer protective health benefits as we age.
How to Combat Loneliness in Older Adults During COVID-19
Older adults are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, but also a second public health crisis: social isolation.
Pre-COVID-19 poll of older adults hints at potential impact of pandemic on their eating habits
Most people in their 50s and older were capable home cooks just before COVID-19 struck America, but only 5% had ordered groceries online, according to a new national poll. The cooking skills that enabled half of older adults to eat dinner at home six or seven days a week may have served them well during the height of the pandemic, the poll suggests. However, they may need added support for grocery shopping as the pandemic continues and older adults seek to avoid COVID-19.
Robotic Cats Are ‘Purr-fect’ Companions for Seniors Isolated Due to COVID-19
Researchers provide the “purr-fect” solution to comfort and engage older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias (ADRD) during the pandemic – interactive robotic cats. Designed to respond to motion, touch and sound, these robotic pets offer an alternative to traditional pet therapy. Robotic pets are usually given to people with ADRD, but data has shown that using them to decrease social isolation for older adults is highly successful.
Even before COVID-19, many adults over 50 lacked stable food supply and didn’t use available assistance, poll finds
Even before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with the nation’s food supply and economy, one in seven adults between the ages of 50 and 80 already had trouble getting enough food because of cost or other issues, a new poll finds.
More berries, apples and tea may have protective benefits against Alzheimer’s
Older adults with low intake of foods and drinks containing flavonoids, such as berries, apples, and tea, were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias over 20 years, compared with people who consumed more of those items, according to a new study.
The pandemic’s impact on older adults
The global pandemic has severely impacted every American, but maybe none more than older people. COVID-19 has placed a high-intensity spotlight on the deleterious effects of deep-seated ageism, sexism and racism on older Americans, suggests a new paper from the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University in St.
Rutgers Expert Available to Comment on COVID-19 Neurological Effects in Seniors
Dr. XinQi Dong, MD, MPH, director of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is available to comment on the importance of further research into neurological effects of COVID-19 that may be related…
Nursing Homes Prepared for Pandemics, but COVID-19 Reveals Gaps
New data suggests that Michigan nursing homes that responded to a survey were far better prepared for this pandemic than they were for the last one. The study includes responses from 130 nursing homes to a survey performed during the week the state announced its first documented case of COVID-19.
Rutgers Expert Available to Comment on Coronavirus Toll in Nursing Homes
Dr. XinQi Dong, director of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is available to comment on the coronavirus’ impact on the nation’s nursing homes. “Many elderly nursing home residents have chronic diseases…
Physically active older veterans fall more, but hurt themselves less
Active older veterans fall more often than their more sedentary peers who never served in the armed forces, but they’re less likely to injure themselves when they do, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Wet T-Shirt Provides Effective Cooling for Older Adults during Heat Waves
Article title: Keeping older individuals cool in hot and moderately humid conditions: wetted clothing with and without an electric fan Authors: Matthew N. Cramer, Mu Huang, Gilbert Moralez, Craig G. Crandall From the authors: “These findings suggest that wearing a water-soaked T-shirt…
Increasing Muscle Size and Strength, Exergames and Older Adults and Treadmills and Cancer Care from Medicine & Science in Sports & Science
If you’re looking for health and fitness story ideas, view these research highlights from ACSM’s flagship research journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®.