A stroke can cause major burden to the victim. An estimated 30 million people around the world are stroke survivors. Approximately one-quarter of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are stroke survivors. A recent review aimed to integrate the existing knowledge from literature regarding stroke and analyze themes…
Aging in place has been increasingly supported by public policies in the United States by allowing frail older adults to remain at home. Policymakers often view assisted living facilities and home healthcare services as more economical and less institutional alternatives to nursing home care. Both home healthcare agencies and assisted…
The prevalence of cognitive impairment among residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes is significantly high (68-72%), among which 42% have moderate to severe impairment. Older adult residents in long-term care who are cognitively impaired suffer greater functional decline pertaining to eating compared to those without dementia. 22% of…
Japan is a country that has been known for its longevity and low ageing rate of 25% (compared to other countries), which has spurred a vast amount of age-related research pertaining to the Japanese population. Much of this research has placed significant attention of sarcopenia, along with the accompanying decrease…
Nursing home patients who receive what is deemed as “ultra high” therapy—at least 720 minutes per week—generate many nursing homes’ largest payments from Medicare. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of billing records, Medicare’s ultrahigh rate was estimated to be about $560 per day in 2013. The estimate was…
Older adult patients residing in nursing homes are often vulnerable and have limited life expectancy. As a result, critical thinking of desirability of future medical interventions is crucial. Advanced care planning (ACP) is often encouraged as a way to make decisions about future medical care. ACP calls for the continuous…
Dementia imposes various hazards that increase a patient’s vulnerability and risk of mortality. Patients with advanced dementia often experience difficulties in swallowing, known as dysphagia. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is the most common cause of aspiration, and pneumonia, presumably caused by aspiration, is the most common cause of death in people with…
Approximately 20% of hospitalized patients are discharged to a skilled nursing facility for post hospitalization sub-acute care. The prevalence of frailty, unresolved acute health problems, a history of chronic illness, and various functional and psychological needs among these patients is high. The complexity of post-acute care needs has not matched…
The older population is highly heterogeneous. Although the general development of diseases and disabilities is similar as they age, the trajectory and rate of change in health and functional ability is widely varied in each individual and those with the same chronological age can have extremely different biological ages. Thus,…
Aging causes individuals to become more vulnerable to chronic diseases and functional disabilities, which in turn diminishes quality of life and incurs more healthcare costs. Thus, improving the health of older adults is a critical concern in healthcare. As the older population rapidly increases, so does the need for long-term…