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Geriatrics research

Everything we have read on geriatrics. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,154 PAPERS · PAGE 3 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNCohort2021Mobility and Self-Care are Associated With Discharge to Community After Home Health for People With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn home health, people with dementia had lower successful discharge to community: 71% versus 81% without dementia. Greater dependence in mobility or self-care was the strongest observed risk factor.
• PTOTRNSurvey2021Fear of Falling among Community-dwelling Sedentary and Active Older People.Investigacion y educacion en enfermeriaFear of falling did not differ between active and sedentary older adults. Sedentary participants had higher depression screening scores, but this survey cannot show that activity changed either outcome.
• PTOTRNOther2021Back pain and heart failure in community-dwelling older adults: Findings from the Health ABC study.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Older adults with back pain reported more falls, worse function, depression and fatigue. Women with heart failure were more likely to report back pain; cognition did not differ.
• OTCohort2021Biopsychosocial characteristics associated with engagement in art making among older adults.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Among 731 older adults, engagement in art making was linked to female sex, higher education, extraversion, openness to experience, and a positive attitude toward the arts. Biological factors like age, chronic health conditions, and physical function were not associated with participation.
• PTOTRNCohort2021Recovery from Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Older Adults in Post-Acute Skilled Nursing Facilities.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults recovering from COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities generally regained function and returned home, with no significant difference in discharge rates compared to non-COVID patients. However, those with moderate-to-severe frailty started lower and ended with significantly less independence than non-frail peers.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Exploring a Nursing Home-Specific, Interdisciplinary, Function-Focused, Communicative Framework Based on Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.The journal of nursing research : JNRNursing home staff described SBAR communication as a way to share subtle functional changes, such as walking difficulties or eating problems. Nurses acted as the central hub, receiving most referrals to assess medical needs before directing care to therapists or support staff.
• PTOTRNSurvey2021Health Promoting Behaviors, Health Needs and Associated Factors among Older Adults in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyJordanian older adults scored low on exercise and nutrition but high on self-actualization. Those with chronic diseases, lower income, or who were unmarried had poorer health behaviors. Married and higher-income participants engaged more in physical activity and healthy eating.
• OTRNSystematic Review2021Tai Chi Interventions Promoting Social Support and Interaction Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review.Research in gerontological nursingGroup tai chi showed mixed social support results: four studies with social additions such as mentors, music, peer practice, or small-group attention and four without reported improvement, while two did not. Evidence was low.
• OTSLPRNSystematic Review2021Telemedicine and Dementia Care: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationVideo dementia care was feasible and often acceptable, but home use relied on care partners, staff, and equipment; hearing and vision problems were common barriers, and no included study adapted technology for them.
• OTRNQualitative2021Community-dwelling older adults who are low-income and disabled weathering financial challenges.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Low-income disabled older adults described financial strain as a constant balancing act. They tracked bills, cut basics, and coped largely by themselves while reporting depression, fear, headaches, high blood pressure, and sleep problems. Safety-net systems were not always helpful.
• OTRNQualitative2021Using poetry as data to explore daily and formal care decision making within African American dementia dyads.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)African American persons living with dementia were the final decision makers for daily care in all five dyads. Formal-care decisions varied, with shared decision making and dyadic communication. Ask both who decides.
• PTOTRNCohort2021Predicting Mortality Risk in Older Hospitalized Persons With COVID-19: A Comparison of the COVID-19 Mortality Risk Score with Frailty and Disability.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAdding pre-admission disability and frailty scores to a standard COVID-19 mortality risk score improved prediction accuracy for older hospitalized patients. Functional status two weeks before admission was independently associated with survival, suggesting these factors should be routinely assessed.
• PTOTRNOther2021Using structural equation modeling in the understanding of functional disability in older adults.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemOlder adults had more difficulty with complex social activities than daily tasks or self-care. Frailty, depression, low schooling and long sitting were linked to lower function. More illnesses were associated with lower function through these factors.
• OTRNSurveyDisruptions in Care and Support for Homebound Adults in Home-Based Primary Care in New York City During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Home healthcare nowHomebound older adults in home-based primary care reported more difficulty accessing medical care, food, and paid caregivers during the pandemic. Black participants were more likely than White and Hispanic participants to report medical care access problems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Incident Impaired Cognitive Function in Sarcopenic Obesity: Data From the National Health and Aging Trends Survey.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with low grip strength, with or without obesity, were at significantly higher risk of developing impaired cognitive function over 8 years. Obesity alone did not increase this risk, suggesting muscle weakness is the primary driver of cognitive decline in this population.
• OTRNNarrative Review2022A research agenda for promoting continence for people living with dementia in the community: Recommendations based on a critical review and expert-by-experience opinion.Journal of clinical nursingHome continence care for people with dementia is under-researched. The review found no robust evidence for most interventions, yet clinicians should assess causes, discuss continence, and avoid defaulting to containment alone.
• OTRNQualitative2021Mental health as a prerequisite for functioning as optimally as possible in old age: A phenomenological approach.Nursing openMental health issues were described as shaping everyday function through life situations, consequences and strategies. Six older women linked physical changes, family worries, finances, sleep and activity to how well they felt able to function.
• OTRNQualitative2022The perspectives of people with dementia on their future, end of life and on being cared for by others: A qualitative study.Journal of clinical nursingPeople with early-stage dementia wanted meaningful activities, independence and trustful care. They described mixed feelings about the future and end of life; some avoided these talks, while others left decisions to family.
• PTOTRNRCT2022Effects of comprehensive intervention on life quality among the elderly with Alzheimer Disease and their caregivers based on mixed models.Nursing openThe main patient quality-of-life score did not differ significantly between groups after six months. Caregiver burden and care ability improved more with the added team-based care package.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Effectiveness of Brain Gaming in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationBrain games did not improve cognitive function, memory, daily activities, or quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. The trials varied widely, so this does not prove all brain games are ineffective.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Home/community-based interventions to improve function in persons with mild cognitive impairment/early dementia.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)In older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia, only some home/community programmes improved daily or instrumental activities. Physical activity alone did not improve these outcomes, and many studies did not measure them.
• OTQualitative2022Meaningful Activities and Sources of Meaning for Community-Dwelling People Living with Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPeople living with dementia kept the same sources of meaning as activities changed. Activities persisted when they needed little function, were adapted when support and training existed, and disappeared when care partners were strained.
• PTOTRNOther2021Effectiveness of a group-walking intervention for people with dementia based on quality of life and caregivers' burden.Nursing openA nurse-led group walking programme did not improve quality of life or daily function. Physical functioning worsened, disability and dependence increased, and caregiver burden showed no clear change. Without a control group, these changes cannot be credited to walking.
• OTQualitative2021Living with pain in 'age-(un)friendly' housing environments: A qualitative study with African American older adults.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Six African American older adults with arthritis pain described living in senior housing that lacked on-site healthcare, grab bars, and internet access. They relied on public transport and social support to manage daily life, noting that environmental barriers complicated their pain self-management.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2021Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Home Care Services Among Community-Dwelling Adults With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome care therapy visits for people with dementia in Ontario fell to half early in the pandemic; nursing visits stayed near 2019 levels, and personal care fell 16%. By late September, rates recovered or exceeded 2019 levels.
• OTRNSurvey2021Relationships of leisure social support and flow with loneliness among nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic: An age-based moderating model.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Nursing home residents with more leisure social support and more flow reported less loneliness. Flow was linked to lower loneliness at younger ages, but not at older ages.
• OTRNQualitative2022Experiences of Family Caregivers of People with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Western journal of nursing researchFamily caregivers of people with dementia described stress, isolation and relatives' anxiety, anger and agitation as hard to manage. They used routine, humor, distraction and reorientation at home, but many still found agitation difficult.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2022Multidimensional factors affecting homebound older adults: A systematic review.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingHomebound older adults were often defined as leaving home less than once a week. Reported prevalence ranged from 3.5% to 39.8%. Advanced age, female sex, cognitive impairment, and home-entry barriers were common factors.
• PTOTRNPilot2021A classification algorithm to predict chronic pain using both regression and machine learning - A stepwise approach.Applied nursing research : ANRDaily step counts predicted weekly pain intensity and interference in older adults, while sleep hours did not. This is a pilot prediction finding, not evidence that a wearable device or more walking treats pain.
• PTOTRNQualitative2022Risk factors for manifestations of frailty in hospitalized older adults: A qualitative study.Journal of advanced nursingHospitalized older adults and ward staff described fear of falls, low staffing, poor communication and lost routines as factors that may restrict independence and worsen frailty signs such as delirium, falls and immobility.
• OTOther2022Use of robots to encourage social engagement between older adults.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Pairs of older adults remained highly engaged with robot-led activities, but Simon Says produced more talking to the robot while book sorting produced more talking and helping between partners.
• PTOTRNCohort2021Frailty and sociodemographic and health factors, and social support network in the brazilian elderly: A longitudinal study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S POver 10 years, frailty rose in older adults living at home, and it was linked to worsening independence, more depressive symptoms, and more illnesses. Social support fell, but it was not linked to frailty.
• OTSurvey2022Social participation and depressive symptoms among older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic in Serbia: A cross-sectional study.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Among 299 older adults, those with fewer social activities reported more depressive symptoms. The link was similar in nursing homes and private homes, and in urban and rural areas, but the study cannot show that adding activities reduces depression.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2022Relationships Between Community Virus Activity and Cardiorespiratory Rehospitalizations From Post-Acute Care.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationCommunity spread of influenza A(H3N2), influenza B, and RSV is linked to higher rates of heart and lung rehospitalizations for nursing home residents. Clinicians should intensify infection control and monitoring during these specific viral seasons.
• OTRNSystematic Review2022Emergency Department Care Transitions for Patients With Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFew tested emergency department discharge programs for older adults with cognitive impairment were found. Among programs tracking return to the emergency department, all reported fewer visits, but details and patient-centered outcomes were inconsistent.
• OTCohort2022Predictors of change over time in satisfaction with outdoor activities ratings among long-term care services and supports recipients.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)During follow-up, older adults receiving long-term services had lower outdoor satisfaction, while younger adults had higher ratings. Assisted living and nursing home residents' ratings rose, while home-based service recipients' ratings fell. Baseline health and education mattered less over time.
• OTRNSystematic Review2022Advancing Gerontological Health Research With Sexual and Gender Minorities Across the Globe.Journal of gerontological nursingSexual and gender minority older adults feared discrimination in care settings, including residential care, and avoided long-term care. Chosen family were often needed for support but were excluded from care planning.
• PTOTSurvey2022Home care providers' perceptions of shared decision-making with older clients (and their caregivers): A cross-sectional study.Nursing & health sciencesHome care providers see older adults facing frequent decisions about daily help, falls, and health management. They rated staying home versus moving as the hardest. Family members were involved in decisions far more often than the clinical team.
• OTNarrative Review2022Social Isolation and Nursing Leadership in Long-Term Care: Moving Forward After COVID-19.The Nursing clinics of North AmericaFor long-term care residents with dementia, isolation is linked to worse mood, behavior, cognition and mortality risk. The review describes keeping them connected through individualized activities, meals, music, family and cultural practices.
• OTSLPRNQualitative2022Family caregivers' perceptions and experiences of participating in the learning skills together intervention to build self-efficacy for providing complex care.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Caregivers of people with dementia said this online group training helped their confidence with complex care. They valued plain-language content, expert answers, peer stories, goal setting, and practice at home. It describes experiences, not proof that self-efficacy improved.
• OTCohort2022Social Engagement and Distress Among Home Care Recipients During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome care recipients in Ontario during the pandemic reported more distressing decline in social activities than before. Older age, dementia, and more caregiver contact were linked to less distressing decline; social withdrawal showed a different pattern.
• OTSLPRNSystematic Review2022The use of visual methods to support communication with older adults with cognitive impairment: A scoping review.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Photos, pictograms, Talking Mats, and web-based decision aids were used to help older adults with cognitive impairment express preferences, understand information, and take part in decisions. Some studies reported better understanding or communication, but retention and expressing choices sometimes did not improve.
• OTRNQualitative2022Experiences of Sleep Problems Among Older Korean Immigrants.Research in gerontological nursingOlder Korean immigrants described poor sleep leaving them dizzy, forgetful, anxious and tired. They napped, used devices, prayed, and sometimes tried coffee, alcohol, or sleeping pills. Worry about family, finances, and living alone kept them awake.
• OTRNQualitative2022Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 Public Health Measures on Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Study.Journal of family nursingCaregivers of community-dwelling people living with dementia described public health measures as adding constant teaching, supply costs and safety monitoring, while day programs closed and home supports were reduced, leaving families isolated and exhausted.
• OTRNQualitative2022Family Caregiving for People Living With Dementia During COVID-19: A Thematic Analysis.Journal of family nursingCaregivers of people with dementia reported that pandemic restrictions left them guessing about risk, doing more daily and household care, and seeing relatives decline. They wanted specific, centralized information and supports that treat caregiver and relative as a pair.
• PTOTPilot2022Remotely supervised home-based online chair yoga intervention for older adults with dementia: Feasibility study.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceOnline chair yoga at home was feasible for older adults with dementia: 7 of 10 who started completed it, with no injuries. Clinical outcomes did not improve, and emotional loneliness increased, so this does not show benefit.
• OTRNCohort2022Engagement in purposeful activities and social interactions amongst persons with dementia in special care units compared to traditional nursing homes: An observational study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesMornings and evenings showed no difference in engagement, but special care unit residents engaged more in purposeful activities and social interactions in the afternoon. Both groups spent half their observed time without engagement.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2022Reasons for Hospitalization while Receiving Dementia Care Coordination through Maximizing Independence at Home.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn older adults with dementia receiving home care coordination, infection and falls were the top causes of hospitalization. Severely impaired patients were hospitalized most often for infection, while mildly impaired patients fell most often.
• OTOther2023Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults.Journal of clinical nursingOlder adults cared for by trained caregivers improved in patient-rated quality of life and cognitive test scores, while usual-care controls declined on one cognitive measure; only the quality-of-life score differed clearly between groups.
• OTCohort2022Home, but Not Homebound: A Prospective Analysis of Persons Living With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAt newly identified dementia, 20.3% of older adults were homebound, and most were not. Depression, living in assisted living, and Hispanic ethnicity were linked to becoming homebound over time.