Depressive symptoms are common in patients suffering from dementia. Because of this, many patients are given anti-depressants, or selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research has shown that increased use of SSRIs is associated with an increased amount of falls in the elderly population, however details are still lacking on the…
Dementia is a degenerative disease that can cause many behavioral and psychological symptoms that make patients difficult to care for. Although medications for these symptoms exist, not many studies have been able to provide conclusive evidence that medications such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are actually directly involved in relieving symptoms of…
Many couples nowadays work simultaneously and take care of both their aging parents and their children. Coined the “sandwich generation”, these couples may experience a burnout as they have to focus on their job, care for their children, their marriage and the health of their aging parents. A study published…
According to the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging, approximately half of nursing home residents experience falls each year. Because falls are such a common accident, it is important that nursing homes understand how to handle the situation immediately after a fall, and the best ways to prevent…
A study published by The Gerontologist found that nursing homes that focused on creating a culture of patient safety which involves using less physical restraints, resulted in lower mortality rates, lower rates of failure to rescue, decreased chances of medical errors, and more days between serious safety events. A culture…
The March 2012 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing studies trends in pressure ulcer prevention in skilled nursing facilities in its article titled “Registered Nurses’ Attention to and Perceptions of Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Hospital Settings.” Pressure ulcers continue to be a major problem in nursing homes and yet,…
A recent article titled, “Comparative Safety of Antipsychotic Medications in Nursing Home Residents” was published by the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. As reported by the article, an entire third of nursing home patients are prescribed antipsychotics at some point during their residence. Because such a large population of nursing…
A study in the March 2012 issue of the Western Journal of Nursing Research, titled “Nursing Home Deficiency Citations for Physical Restraints and Restrictive Side Rails” brings attention to the use of physical restraints in skilled nursing facilities. The study is unique because it includes restrictive bed rails in its…
Nursing home residents who suffer from dementia often also suffer from coexisting depression. Depression can cause a greater cognitive decline in dementia patients. However, because the overlapping symptoms of depression and dementia such as atypical presentation, lack of insight, and expression difficulties are often overlooked, nursing home residents who suffer…
An article in the March 2012 issue of the Journal of American Medical Directors Association titled “Is Your Nursing Home a Battlefield?” address the issue of dementia-related agitation in skilled nursing facilities. The article makes the analogy that nursing homes are often comparable to battlefields when dementia patients experience episodes…