A large variety of chronic diseases is related to changes in body composition. The loss of skeletal muscle mass is particularly critical with regard to an older adult’s quality of life due to the fact that it could lead to decreases in exercise ability and activities of daily living. Cachexia…
It is an unfortunate fact that nursing homes frequently use forced arbitration clauses that, once coerced to be signed by a resident, strips him of his legal rights and is rendered powerless in the event of a future dispute. Former US Representative Henry Waxman recently published an op-ed in the…
Older adults living in assisted living facilities often require assistance with medication management. A recent study analyzed the roles in assisted living medication management and satisfaction with unlicensed assisted personnel (UAP) as medication aides, a commonly used approach to decrease staffing expenses. The results of the study detail medication management…
Adverse events in hospitals remain highly prevalent to this day. From 2008 to 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services conducted a series of studies pertaining to hospital adverse events, which are injurious outcomes from medical care. A Congressionally mandated study was part of this work that sought to…
A decreased ability to distinguish between colors is characteristic of people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, but is less severe among those who have Gaucher’s disease with “Parkinsonian” symptoms. Although most of the world’s population is not as prone to developing Gaucher’s disease compared to Parkinson’s, Ashkenzi Jewish families are…
The number of nursing home residents battling with urinary incontinence is much greater than older adults living in the community. Urinary incontinence in the nursing home is as high as 78% in women and 72% in men, with these rates increasing with age. A recent retrospective analysis sought to determine…
It is well known that the aging population is on a continuous rise with people living longer than ever before due to the increase in more chronic conditions, such as cancer and dementia. The progression of these conditions increase the need for more care and heighten the chance for more…
Stroke is the primary reason for long-term disability. Physical rehabilitation strategies that are intensive, repetitive, and task-oriented can significantly improve motor function in patients with stroke through encouraging motor learning and neuroplasticity. Repetitive task training that requires the performance of functionally relevant tasks at high intensity levels can enhance transfer…
As dementia becomes more prevalent within the older adult population, care that aims to provide comfort or quality of life, as in palliative care, may be a more appropriate option than curative care. A primary characteristic of quality of palliative care is advanced care planning (ACP). It is also a…
The older population is steadily growing worldwide. The aging process often involves a continuous decline in cognitive function, normally leading to minor changes to cognitive processes such as memory retrieval and the speed at which information is encoded. For normal progression of aging, this functional decrease is not critical enough…