Elderly residents of nursing homes and hospitals are often victims of falls and related injuries. As such, one bad fall can significantly lengthen a patient’s hospital stay, which can increase the risk of further complications, as falls can lead to broken bones and even death. However, these occurrences are highly…
On October 15, 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act of 2013. The passage of this Act followed after the veto of a similar bill by the governor last year. It has served as a response to critics who have continually argued that the…
Many elderly individuals have a higher risk of falling, and usually sustain greater injuries from such falls due to their frail nature. Additionally, because those residing in long term care facilities are generally frailer than their peers living in the community, they are more prone to falling and are likely…
Unfortunately, pressure ulcers are preventable, yet common conditions which arise in elderly individuals who reside in nursing homes and other healthcare settings. Not only do these severe wounds cause physical discomfort and pain, but a study published in Wounds delved into the social and psychological effects of pressure ulcers which…
Elderly individuals suffering from dementia often exhibit certain behaviors, such as aggression, agitation, or anxiety, which many people consider to be symptoms of dementia. However, experts have noted that categorizing these behaviors as ‘symptoms’ and applying such terminology to these behaviors may be misleading or mistaken. This is because research…
Recent research has been conducted to explain why the elderly population may be at higher risk for pressure ulcer development. Our skin functions as a defensive barrier against physical and chemical trauma and disease. However, research has uncovered correlations between skin changes that occur with age which may serve as…
The U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) recently announced that it would be providing $45 million in funding for researchers to test novel drugs and therapies towards Alzheimer’s disease prevention, promoting a nationwide effort to find a solution to this prevalent degenerative disease. The NIH hopes this funding will help…
Lysostaphin is a natural enzyme that functions as an antibacterial against staphylococcal infections including Staphylococcal aureus and Staphylococcal epidermidis. It is effective against combating these infections because it attacks the bacterial cellular wall of staphylococci, and is capable of destroying the bacterium within minutes. Staphylococcal aureus infections, particularly MRSA (methicillin-resistant…
A government shutdown took place Tuesday morning on October 1, 2013, due to Congress’ failure to pass a 2014 spending measure before the midnight deadline on Monday. The shutdown has resulted in about 800,000 federal employees being furloughed, allowing only for ‘essential’ government workers to continue performance of their duties.…
All elderly individuals residing in nursing homes are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), a significant cause of fatalities and needless suffering. Common healthcare-associated infections include urinary tract infections, skin infections such as pressure ulcers, pneumonia, influenza, scabies, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These infections are known as healthcare-associated infections…