While no one can deny that certain demographics are aggressively protected, as evidenced by campaigns launched to protect children’s rights, women’s rights, or civil rights, it is not often that we hear about protecting our elderly’s rights. This is particularly shocking because the elderly are an especially vulnerable population, and…
It is not uncommon for the elderly to need the assistance of multiple medications to maintain their health. However, as the number of medications being taken increases, so does the risk involved. A study conducted by the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine finds…
It is no secret that taking care of the elderly in a nursing home is an incredibly important role that carries with it responsibilities of magnanimous proportions. In addition to offering physical aid to avoid falls and encourage mobility through physical exercises, nurses must also build rapport with their residents…
A 2013 study conducted by BioMed Central Geriatrics found that there is a strong positive correlation between pain and disruptive behaviors displayed by the elderly suffering from dementia. It explains that such behavior is often expressed through aggression or agitation, which increases these patients’ risk for injuries and hospitalizations. In…
A new study published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that there is a direct correlation between pressure ulcers (bedsores) developed during hospitalization, patient mortality and hospital re-admittance. According to the study, not only did seniors that developed pressure ulcers during their hospital stay have a higher…
A recent study in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association has proposed that the use of multiple medications on patients, sometimes for off-label purposes, is a significant practice in nursing homes and may lead to adverse drug effects such as falls and delirium. This practice is referred to as…
According to an article in Bloomberg News, the for-profit private nursing home industry overbills Medicare by 1.5 billion dollars a year by conducting unnecessary procedures and therapy on their patients. This, however, is not the only way that for-profit nursing homes have been using unlawful methods to increase profits. Nursing…
The term ‘sarcopenia‘ is used to describe the loss of muscle mass as a result of aging. Because sarcopenia progresses with age, it is very common in skilled nursing facilities. Studies that have been conducted on the treatment of sarcopenia generally focus primarily on nutrition. One recent survey titled “Effectiveness…
A recent study observed polypharmacy in nursing home residents. While previous studies have confirmed the dangers of polypharmacy in the elderly, this study is unique because it specifically focuses on patients with cognitive disorders. Approximately 60% of nursing home residents suffer from some type of cognitive disorder. Patients with cognitive…
Although Californians fortunately were not directly affected by Hurricane Sandy, the disaster poses many implications for disaster preparedness in the health care industry. A recent article published by the New England Journal of Medicine titled “Disaster Resilience and People with Functional Needs” discusses strategies that can be used by the…