TOPIC

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 6 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Interprofessional Collaborations on Interventions for People With Loneliness: A Scoping Review.Nursing openTeam-based loneliness programmes used home visits, phone calls, digital groups and art sessions. Several studies reported lower loneliness, but collaboration details were unclear and many were not controlled trials.
• OTOther2025Has Increased Medicaid Spending on Home- and Community-Based Services Reduced Unmet Needs in Activities of Daily Living Care among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia? Evidence from 2008 to 2020.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPutting a larger share of Medicaid long-term care dollars into home and community services was associated with fewer unmet ADL care needs in older adults with dementia. Total spending did not show the same link. This is state spending data, not a therapy trial.
• OTQualitative2025The Significance of Social Connections and Health in Relation to Loneliness Experienced by Older Adults Living at Home: A Qualitative Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesSome older adults said being alone felt pleasant when daily routines let them pursue solitary activities. Others felt lonely when meaningful connections were lost or relationships felt unequal. Staying active was important, but physical and cognitive limits made this harder.
• PTOTCohort2025Short Physical Performance Battery or Chair Stand: Which Better Predicts Disability Among High-Functioning Older Adults?Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn older adults who were independent and walked faster than 0.8 m/s, a chair stand time of 11.5 seconds or more or a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 11 or lower flagged higher future daily-living disability risk than common cutoffs.
• PTOTRNOther2025Factors Associated With Falls Among Residents Living in Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario.International journal of older people nursingOntario long-term care residents who wandered, had pain or delirium, recently deteriorated in ADLs or care needs, were incontinent, or took antidepressants, antipsychotics, antianxiety medicines, hypnotics or analgesics were more likely to have fallen in the previous 30 days.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2025Best Practice to Prevent Constipation in People Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review.International journal of older people nursingEvidence for preventing constipation in dementia is limited and low-quality. Seven studies showed mixed results: probiotics and hydration plans helped, but exercise and scheduled toileting alone did not. Most effective strategies were multicomponent, targeting diet and fluid.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2025The Effect of a Health-Promoting Program on Quality of Life of Thai Homebound Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyHomebound older adults whose family caregivers completed a 12-week empowerment program reported significantly better quality of life than those receiving usual care. The caregivers learned practical skills like fall prevention and hygiene, directly improving the patients' physical, psychological, and social well-being.
• PTOTRNOther2026Multidimensional associations of physical performance, balance, wellness and daily activities with frailty in older adults with coexisting frailty and diabetes.Journal of clinical nursingIn older adults with diabetes and frailty, faster walking and sit-to-stand movement, better one-leg balance, more moderate-to-vigorous activity, less dependence, better nutrition and health perception were associated with being pre-frail rather than frail. Higher depression scores were associated with being frail.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2026Perceptions and Experiences of Animal-Assisted Interventions for People Living With Dementia: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.Journal of clinical nursingPeople with dementia often engage with animal-assisted interventions after initial hesitation, driven by prior positive experiences with animals. Success depends on flexible, individualized sessions and staff training to manage sensory overload, fall risks, and behavioral challenges in care homes.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2025Palliative Home Care Based on Clinically Relevant Scientific Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePatients with heart failure and dementia and their caregivers rated symptoms similarly, but caregivers reported more concern about pain and information needs. Higher patient symptom scores predicted worse heart health and greater caregiver burden. The practical problems item did not agree between pairs.
• PTOTRNOther2026Gender Differences in Disease Burden, Symptom Burden, and Quality of Life Among People Living With Heart Failure and Multimorbidity: Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of advanced nursingOlder women with heart failure and multimorbidity reported higher disease burden, more pain, tiredness, nausea and lack of appetite, and worse quality of life than men. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot explain causes or show what treatment helps.
• PTOTRNCohort2025SANTANA Cohort: Study on Frailty in Institutionalised Older Adults and Its Relationship With Gordon's Functional Health Patterns.Journal of advanced nursingIn 1245 nursing home residents, frailty was present in 25% at baseline and 51.7% after 5 years. Nurses' activity-exercise and social-relationship assessments tracked frailty, but the study did not test whether this changes patient care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Carer Involvement in Rehabilitation for People Living With Dementia: A Systematic Review.Journal of advanced nursingAcross 12 main trials, involving carers more was not linked to better outcomes for people with dementia or their carers. Involvement roles varied widely, and the evidence was too mixed to guide practice.
• OTRNPilot2025A Multi-Method Study to Develop and Pilot Test an Interprofessional Transitional Care Model for Frail Older Adults - AdvantAGE.Journal of advanced nursingAn interprofessional transitional care model, with nurse-led home visits, was piloted in 62 frail older adults; 14 were readmitted. It refined the model but did not test whether it reduces readmissions.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2026Clinical Implications for Management of Falls in Hospital Patients with Communication Disability After Stroke: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingHospital falls after stroke often go unexplained when severe aphasia prevents patients describing what happened. Staff documented communication problems as cognition, used equipment, and missed adapted education. Multidisciplinary plans, family support and speech-language input suggest safer falls prevention.
• OTQualitative2026Investigating Person-Centred Care Planning in Care Homes Across England: An Exploratory Study of Practices and Contextual Factors.Journal of advanced nursingCare home staff said person-centred planning meant knowing residents' values and involving them in choices, but time, paperwork and digital tools often blocked it.
• OTRNSurvey2025Examining the Relationship Between Daily Activity Levels and Elder Abuse and Neglect: Bringing Light on Elder Abuse.Journal of advanced nursingDaily-activity dependence was not linked to elder abuse in 448 older adults in Turkey. Psychological abuse was most common, and family conflict or poor self-rated health were associated with higher abuse risk.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2026Effects of Psychosocial Interventions on Loneliness Amongst Long-Term Care Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of advanced nursingFace-to-face group activities lasting under eight weeks cut loneliness in long-term care residents. Lifestyle activities like laughter, gardening and exercise worked better than psychological therapies. Virtual visits with family showed no benefit.
• PTOTSurvey2025Black-White Differences in Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Deserts: Implications for Unmet Care Needs.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationBlack older adults with care needs reported more adverse consequences overall. White older adults in counties with few community care options also reported more adverse consequences, though the link was not clear after accounting for other factors. Service availability was not linked to Black outcomes.
• PTOTRNRCT2025A Cross-Lagged Panel Model Testing the Impact of Physical Activity During Hospitalization on 1- and 6-Month Discharge Physical Activity and Adverse Events Among Older Adults With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with dementia who were more physically active at hospital discharge had lower odds of falling and being rehospitalized within one month. Activity levels did not drop after these adverse events occurred, suggesting discharge mobility is a key protective factor.
• PTOTRNOther2026Safe Mobility in Hospitalised Older Adults: A Concept Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingPromote hospitalised older adults' active movement while reducing severe fall and immobility harms, rather than preventing every fall. This concept analysis defines safe mobility; it does not test patient outcomes.
• OTQualitative2026Function-Focused Care Efficacy in Long-Term Care: A Concept Analysis Using the Hybrid Model.Journal of advanced nursingFunction-focused care in long-term care was defined as the belief that direct care workers can identify remaining abilities, set personal goals, embed support in daily tasks, encourage independence and document change.
• PTOTCohort2025Development of Prediction Models for Healthy Ageing in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study Using Machine Learning.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults predicted to age healthily had higher household wealth, younger age, internet use, normal chair-rise speed, physical activity, no pain, high life satisfaction, and no abdominal obesity.
• OTSystematic Review2025Smart Glasses for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationSmart glasses for older adults with cognitive impairment are mostly early prototypes or low-quality studies. Tested glasses had marginal to good usability, but weight, fall fear, distraction, and navigation problems remain concerns.
• PTOTRNRCT2025Pulmonary Rehabilitation Exercise Package for Enhancing Health in Elderly COPD Patients With Frailty: An Experimental Study.The journal of nursing research : JNRA 4-week pulmonary rehabilitation package significantly reduced shortness of breath and improved walking distance and leg strength in frail older adults with COPD compared to routine care. It also reduced frailty scores at one month. The intervention included breathing exercises, bed exercises, and education.
• OTRNCohort2025Skilled Nursing Facility Population Characteristics and Length of Stay: A Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationResidents dependent in daily activities and those with vascular or surgical devices stayed longer in a skilled nursing facility; dependence in daily activities was the strongest factor tied to longer stays.
• OTRNQualitative2026Structural Resilience Across the Life Course: Perspectives From Older Adults Racialized as Black.Journal of advanced nursingOlder adults racialized as Black described community and societal resources such as schools, healthcare, housing, and community groups as safeguarding, empowering, or restoring them across life. Financial support, home modifications, and hospice care were part of these accounts.
• PTOTCohort2025Utilization of Occupational and Physical Therapy Home Health Visits Among People Living With Dementia With Varying Social Determinants of Health.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPeople living with dementia had OT and PT home health visit counts not associated with race or neighborhood disadvantage. Care partner-reported PT visits differed from agency records. Baseline ADL gaps did not persist at 30 days.
• OTRNOther2025Adverse Social Determinants of Health and Urinary Incontinence Among Older Adult Women in Home Health Care.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder women in home health care with documented unsafe housing, financial strain, or food insecurity were more likely to have urinary incontinence. Ask about these social risks and consider continence evaluation and home modifications.
• PTOTRNOther2025Stigma Towards Hospitalised Older Adults: A Concept Analysis.Nursing openHospitalised older adults face stigma as age-based assumptions, exclusion from decisions, neglected pain care and rehabilitation, and dismissive communication. These practices are associated with withdrawal, poorer recovery, disability and delayed discharge.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026How Can We Improve Personal Care Interactions to Reduce Care Refusals From People With Dementia? A Realist Synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingPeople with dementia may accept personal care when they trust the caregiver and feel safe. The synthesis proposes strategies like offering limited choices, connecting respectfully, simplifying care, and addressing pain or thirst first. These are proposed theories, not tested interventions.
• PTOTRNCohort2025Frailty, Nutrition, and Quality of Life in Urban-Dwelling Older Adults Facing Vulnerability: Observational Study in Primary Heath Care Settings in Underpopulated Areas.Nursing & health sciencesPoor functional independence and performance were the strongest indicators of vulnerability in older adults in Brazilian primary care, and poor nutrition was also linked. Quality of life was linked to vulnerability but was not analyzed as a predictor.
• OTSLPRNQualitative2026Bridging the Social Gap Through 'Conscious Caring': A Constructivist Grounded Theory of the Art of Caring for Older Adults With Dual Sensory Impairment.Journal of advanced nursingFamily carers of older adults with dual vision and hearing loss described becoming the communication bridge in daily life and health care visits. They said the impairment was often mistaken for normal ageing, leaving them isolated and unsupported by task-focused services.
• OTRNSystematic Review2025Journeying Home: Elderly Patients' Experiences and Needs During Hospital Discharge- A Meta-Synthesis.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesOlder patients with several long-term conditions leaving hospital for home wanted understandable, timely discharge information and a role that matched their preference. Some welcomed family advocacy; others felt controlled. Rushed, jargon-filled discharge left them anxious.
• OTRNQualitative2026Older Adults' Self-Care and Family Caregiver Contribution in Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Dyadic Qualitative Study.Journal of advanced nursingIn 34 older adult and family caregiver dyads managing multiple chronic conditions, older adults prioritised symptoms that limited daily life, while caregivers prioritised diseases with complications. Self-care roles and decisions often differed.
• PTOTProtocol2025Examining High-Intensity Exercise on Cognitive and Vascular Outcomes in Older Adults Living With HIV-A Research Protocol: Design and Rationale From Two Harmonized Clinical Studies in the Deep South.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACThis paper describes the design of two trials testing high-intensity versus continuous exercise in older adults with HIV. No results are reported. It outlines methods for assessing cognitive function, arterial stiffness, and exercise adherence over 12 months.
• OTCohort2025Vulnerability in older adults in Primary Health Care: challenges associated with frailty and functionality.Revista brasileira de enfermagemOlder adults in primary care who needed help with daily activities were more likely to be vulnerable or frail. Mildly dependent people were 2.75 times more likely to be at risk of frailty; fully dependent were 2.65 times more likely to be frail.
• PTOTRNOther2025Key Areas of Preventive Home Visits and Their Importance for Older Adults: A Scoping Review.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesPreventive home visits for older adults centred on autonomy, trust, tailored advice and information. Older adults valued a regular nurse contact, but some healthy or very ill saw little benefit.
• OTSystematic Review2026General Dementia Training for the Social Care Workforce: A Systematic Review.Journal of advanced nursingDementia training for social care staff often improved staff knowledge, confidence and attitudes. Evidence that it changed care or improved quality of life for people with dementia was mixed, with too few controlled studies to be sure.
• OTRNCohort2025Correlates of Metamemory in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With and Without HIV in the Deep South: A Cross-Sectional Study.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACDepression and race were the strongest links to how accurately older adults judged their own memory. Those with depression or who underestimated their abilities reported more memory mistakes and less satisfaction. Objective memory impairment rates were similar between HIV-positive and negative groups.
• PTOTRNOther2025Functionality and cognition of older adults hospitalized in a university hospital.Revista brasileira de enfermagemHospitalized older adults commonly had probable cognitive deficit and partial dependence in instrumental activities. Those aged 80 or older had more basic-activity dependence and probable cognitive deficit; age group did not show an association with instrumental activity dependence.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Healing at Home: Receipt of Home Health Care and Patient-Centered Outcomes Among Older Adults After Acute Myocardial Infarction.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health care after AMI made no significant difference to days not at home in older adults. It was linked to a lower chance of a 5-point or greater physical health status decline.
• OTSystematic Review2025The Impact of Psychosocial Interventions on Older Adults in the Community Experiencing Social Isolation: An Integrative Review.International journal of mental health nursingCommunity psychosocial programmes helped isolated older adults feel more connected and less alone. Programmes that included peer groups, befriending or one-to-one support showed benefits, but evidence came from small, varied studies.
• OTRNQualitative2025Experiences and Perceptions of Functional Recovery in Late-Life Depression: A Qualitative Study.International journal of mental health nursingOlder adults recovering from depression described functional recovery as pushing through low motivation, accepting changed abilities, managing pain and fatigue, and relying on routines, family, pets and feeling understood.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Lagged effects of risk factors on the disability of older adults: A distributed lag non-linear model approach.International journal of nursing sciencesRisk factors for disability in older adults follow three distinct timelines. Functional limitations like walking difficulty cause immediate harm within one year, while conditions like depression and hospitalization exert a cumulative burden over three to four years.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026How Housing Influences Nursing Home Utilization in the United States: An Integrative Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHousing cost, ownership, and accessibility were associated with long-term nursing home use in U.S. studies. Renters were more likely to enter nursing homes than homeowners. Affordable housing and home modifications were associated with community transitions.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2026Geriatric Models of Surgical Care: A Scoping Review.Journal of advanced nursingMost models shortened hospital stays, but mortality results were inconsistent. Nurse practitioners performed comprehensive geriatric assessments and coordinated care in 38% of studies. Allied health input appeared in 58% of models, yet functional outcomes and quality of life were rarely measured.
• OTQualitative2026Family in the experience of multiprofessional team care for elderly residents of a Therapeutic Residential Service.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PMost older residents had absent or broken family ties, so staff became emotional references and some residents built new family-like bonds. Teams wanted coordinated care with family and other services, and saw residence care as a last option.
• PTOTOther2026Exploring an Allied Health Student Placement Model in Rural Aged-Care Settings: A UDRH Collaborative Evaluation Using RE-AIM.The Australian journal of rural healthAllied health students in rural aged care delivered 71 weeks of services, improving resident access and reducing staff workload. Students reported positive shifts in attitudes toward aged care, though significant financial barriers and supervision constraints threatened sustainability.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2026Adapting to a Shrunken World: A Grounded Theory of Resident Adaptation to Life in Residential Aged Care.Journal of advanced nursingResidents who accepted their need for care viewed the move as a trade-off for safety, allowing them to focus on remaining abilities. Those who resisted saw every assistance as a loss of self, leading to resentment and withdrawal.