Below are some of the latest research and features on this growing population of older adults in the Seniors channel on Newswise.
Tag: Seniors
How Much Vision Loss is Too Much When it Comes to Driving?
When’s the right time for an older adult to stop driving? Researchers at the University of Western Australia sought to shed light on this question by investigating at what point declining vision increases the risk of a car accident.
Infirmary Health partners with Ochsner Accountable Care Network to improve health outcomes for seniors across the Gulf Coast
Ochsner Health and Infirmary Health announce a landmark partnership with Ochsner Accountable Care Network, a top-performing accountable care organization (ACO) in both clinical performance and healthcare savings for the Medicare population.
World Alzheimer’s Month 2023: Shining a Light on Alzheimer’s – Domenico Praticò
Since 2012, September has been celebrated as World Alzheimer’s Month. Back then, and only eleven years ago, an average of 2 out of 3 people had little understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias.
Directly Involved War Veterans Exhibit Nearly Twice the PTSD Symptoms Years After 2014 Israel-Gaza Conflict, Affecting Parents’ Well-being
New study conducted by Hebrew University researchers Shahaf Leshem, Eldad Keha, and Prof. Eyal Kalanthroff has uncovered insights into the enduring psychological effects of the 2014 Israel-Gaza military conflict.
Virtual rehabilitation program for seniors with frailty shows promise, according to McMaster-led research
Researchers ran the pilot project from August 2020 to November 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak and seniors were encouraged to stay home. Investigators recruited 72 participants from a wait list of more than 200 for the study and split participants into either a virtual care group or control group. Those receiving virtual care received twice-weekly live-streamed exercise sessions, one phone call a week from student volunteers, medication review consultations and nutrition counselling via videoconference and protein supplementation, over a 12-week period. The control group only received once-weekly calls from volunteers.
The results showed that strong adherence to the virtual program made it a feasible option for delivering care to older adults, with 81 per cent of participants in the virtual care group attending the exercise classes, above a predicted 75 per cent adherence rate.
Five Key Factors Affect Physical Activity in Multi-ethnic Older Adults
A study is the first to use a large range of instruments/ tools and include older adults from many ethnic groups to determine factors affecting their physical activity. Results showed that age, education, social network, pain and depression accounted for a statistically significant proportion of unique variance in physical activity in this diverse older population living independently. Those who reported lower physical activity tended to be older, have less years of education and reported lower social engagement, networking, resilience, mental health, self-health rating, and higher levels of depression, anxiety, pain, and body mass index compared to the moderate to high physical activity groups.
Senate Introduces Bill to Provide Full Chiropractic Coverage in Medicare
The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill, S. 4042, to modernize Medicare coverage and better meet the needs of today’s seniors by increasing access to services provided by doctors of chiropractic.
UCLA-led Research Finds Ozone Exposure Link to the Development of Type 2 Diabetes
UCLA-led research finds ozone exposure contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes; team examining Californians’ health finds pattern holds true, particularly among those with higher levels of leisure-time outdoor physical activity
Comparing seniors who relocate long-distance shows where you live affects your longevity
Would you like to live longer? It turns out that where you live, not just how you live, can make a big difference.
MCI Helper e-newsletter to aid Mild Cognitive Impairment patients, says Dr. Leslie Norins, of MCI911.com
Despite the absence of a curative drug, improvements in MCI may be possible though use of substances and tactics published throughout medical journals and summarized here.
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…
Study finds racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes
Nursing homes with the largest proportions of non-White residents experience 3.3 times more COVID-19 deaths than do nursing homes with the largest proportions of White residents, according to a new study from the University of Chicago.
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.
NSU’s LifeLong Learning Institute Provides Seniors with Meaningful Virtual Socialization During COVID-19
hen the COVID-19 pandemic brought the U.S. to a standstill, active seniors were suddenly shut in and lost the ability to socialize as they normally would. The impact to Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) LifeLong Learning Institute (LLI) was immediate, with in-person classes and social gatherings suspended indefinitely.
LLI students virtually connected through Zoom participate in chair yoga this past spring.
Thus began Linda Maurice’s herculean effort to transition to Zoom classes to encourage the older adults who attend the LLI’s seminars to continue to have meaningful interactions, albeit at a virtual distance.
Study Finds No Benefit, Possible Harm to Seniors’ Fall Risks with Higher Doses of Vitamin D
Johns Hopkins researchers have found that more is not always better in the case of vitamin D consumption and seniors’ fall risk.
MCI911.com posts seven supplements which may aid mild cognitive impairment, says Dr. Leslie Norins, CEO.
Mild cognitive impairment affects millions of seniors. There is no curative drug. Seven possibly helpful supplements gleaned from medical journal articles are described
“Research Radar” to focus on mild cognitive impairment, says Dr. Leslie Norins, CEO of MCI911.com
MCI911.com had added a new department, Research Radar, to focus exclusively on advancements to aid fighting MCI
MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT COUNTERATTACK
Battling the mild cognitive impairment stage of Alzheimer’s may disease may “nip it in the bud”.
Nurse Scientists to Study Preventive Care of Low-Income Seniors
People age 80 and older account for 19% of patients at Cedars-Sinai, a figure that is expected to increase in the coming years as the general U.S. population ages. The proportion of these patients who are low-income also is growing. Nurse scientists from the Nursing Research Department at Cedars-Sinai are now studying how best to address preventive health services among older patients like these while reducing the potential strain on long-term care, hospitals and the healthcare system.
Partnership Brings More Than 20,000 Onsite COVID-19 Tests to Senior Facilities, Other Vulnerable Populations in Detroit
A partnership among Altimetrik, a Southfield-based fast-growing global business transformation company, the 501(c)(3) Vattikuti Foundation, Henry Ford Health System and the City of Detroit has provided more than 20,000 onsite COVID-19 tests to residents in 163 of Detroit’s senior and congregate living facilities, as well as the city’s first responders and essential workers.
Older Americans may find it difficult to adapt to a cashless society brought on by COVID-19
A cashless society could be what consumer life after the COVID-19 pandemic looks like, but older Americans may find it hard to adjust to this new reality, according to Plamen Nikolov, assistant professor of economics at Binghamton University, State University…
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.
COVID-19 Collaboration Reducing Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities
A collaborative program developed at UVA Health to work with local long-term care facilities to control COVID-19 is saving lives and offers a model for communities across the country, a new scientific paper reports.
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.
COVID-19: Don’t Stop Taking Your Medications
With the pandemic disrupting our everyday lives, routine errands have become challenging for seniors and others who run a high-risk of developing a serious COVID-19 infection. But there’s one routine they should not let lapse: refilling medications.
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…
Researchers develop real-time sleep and health monitor
Smart sensing device can alert loved ones and caregivers to falls and other emergencies
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…
WashU Expert: Older Americans are not expendable
Many countries reacted slowly and inadequately to the spread of COVID-19. Some critics have said this is due to initial reports of the disease, which indicated that it mainly affected older populations. Some, including the Texas lieutenant governor on Fox News, have even suggested that older Americans should be willing to sacrifice their health or lives for the good of the economy and the good of others.
Dehydrated, low on sugar or at risk of skin infection? Wearable sensor made by NUS researchers can tell from your sweat
A team of NUS researchers have come up with the pH Watch, an ‘add-on’ to a wearable health monitoring gadget that can tell users about the condition of their health from their sweat pH.
Lonely in a Crowd: Overcoming Loneliness with Acceptance and Wisdom
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found the main characteristics of loneliness in a senior housing community and the strategies residents use to overcome it.
Bea Weiser, 98, Volunteers to Help People with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
For more than 14 years, Bea Weiser, 98, has volunteered at the front desk of FAU’s Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center to help attendees who are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Nothing slows down this vibrant and energetic senior who continues to maintain her independence (she still drives) and who has worked since she was 14 years old. Even a recent setback with a broken shoulder and a cancer diagnosis has not deterred her from returning to the center three afternoons a week to continue her passion to help others.
Can a cat improve your grandma’s life?
Research is looking at how having a pet can help seniors
New Diagnostic Criteria May Enable Earlier Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Women
Study finds when verbal memory test cut-offs were tailored to patient sex, more female patients and fewer male patients were considered to have amnesic mild cognitive impairment. This could change the way aMCI diagnoses are determined and make it easier to catch the condition in its early stages.
The Slaight Family Foundation enables UHN to change the way we deliver care to seniors – and it will happen outside the hospital
The Silver Tsunami will see an unprecedented number of seniors in Canada. Thanks to a $3-million investment from The Slaight Family Foundation, University Health Network (UHN) is one step closer to being able to design programs and supports to enable seniors to live and thrive in their communities.
Protein Intake, Physical Function in Older Adults Differs Dramatically by Ethnicity/Race
A cross-sectional study examined differences in protein intake, nutritional status, and physical health (muscle strength and function) among older African Americans, European Americans and Hispanic Americans. The study is the first to evaluate these physical health indicators in association with protein intake among different racial/ethnic groups. A contributing factor to the age-related changes in muscle is insufficient protein intake by older adults. Findings highlight the need for further education and evidence-based interventions to support this vulnerable population.
How seniors perceive oral health may make all the difference whether they will seek treatment, according to study
New research at the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University looks to change the strategy in identifying seniors’ perception of oral health issues. The idea is to find a correlation between seniors who value dental care and those who seek it out, despite the cost, transportation to appointments and other common barriers.
More Older Americans Will Suffer From Low Vision, Here’s How to Make Life Easier and Safer
The number of older Americans with low vision is expected to double in the coming years, as more people live longer. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is taking the opportunity of September’s Healthy Aging Month to let people know they can retain their independence and stay safe, despite declining vision.
Arthritis and exercise: Why it helps to be more physically active
More than 50 million U.S. adults have arthritis. Many experience severe joint pain and, likely because of their pain, don’t do much exercising if at all. But medical experts say that while joint pain is often managed with medication, regular…