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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 7 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNCohort2026Identifying Risk Factors for Fall-Related Injuries Among Inpatients at a Tertiary Hospital in China: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Nursing openAmong 145 inpatient falls, improper footwear had higher injury rates (68.10% vs 51.00%), and toileting caused 35.43% of falls. Patients with full mobility had the highest injury rate (66.10%).
• OTRNQualitative2026Self-Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life-Course Theory.Journal of clinical nursingEighteen older adults with multimorbidity said self-care was learned through trial and error, not clinic education. They felt emotional needs were overlooked in healthcare and relied on family, peers and online groups.
• OTRNCohort2026Stage of Disease Among Hospitalized Persons Living With Dementia: A Multisite Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost hospitalized dementia patients had moderate dementia, not severe. They were more likely to be older, Black, admitted to general medicine, and diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Severe dementia was rare and may be missed because palliative or hospice patients were excluded.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026Meaning and Influencing Factors of a Good Death for Community-Dwelling Individuals With Dementia: An Integrative Review.International journal of older people nursingPeople with dementia and families described a good death as pain-free, at home, with family present, dignity and autonomy, and meaningful activities. Community resources and advance care planning were linked to these views.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2026Identifying types of non-pharmacological interventions administered by healthcare providers for older adults with neurocognitive disorders who have lower urinary tract symptoms: A scoping review.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSNon-drug continence care for older adults with neurocognitive disorders and urinary symptoms was mapped into individualized, behavioral, cognitive, and educational interventions across 18 studies. As severity increased, care shifted from self-management to caregiver-led and technology-assisted support.
• OTRNOther2026Effect of Board Games with Mobile Applications on Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Quasi-Experimental Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment who joined board-game sessions, MCI education and app practice scored higher on a cognitive test than controls who got education and app access. Because groups were assigned by clinic, not randomized, this is promising, not proof.
• OTQualitative2026Alert Systems for People Living with Dementia who go Missing: Case Studies in Canada, Scotland, and the United States.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresPeople living with dementia went missing during routine walks or drives. Families described fear and helplessness, and some turned to GPS phones, ID bracelets, or alert systems that were sometimes unavailable or not activated.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2026Supporting Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Coronary Heart Disease: Development of a Web-Based Nursing Intervention.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresOlder adults recovering from coronary surgery described fear of triggering symptoms and uncertainty about safe exercise as key barriers to being active. They asked for clear, personalized guidance and regular encouragement from a nurse to build confidence.
• PTOTRNOther2026Health Outcomes Following the Health-Promoting "Reflective STRENGTH-Giving Dialogue" Intervention Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesParticipants reported lower impact of health problems on daily life and higher well-being after each dialogue on average. Over 14 weeks, no significant within-group changes were found.
• PTOTSurvey2026Health-Related Quality of Life of Adults With Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Care.Journal of clinical nursingAdults with Long COVID reported worse health-related quality of life than those without, especially anxiety/depression, pain/discomfort, and usual activities. These differences remained after accounting for age, sex, and comorbidities.
• OTRNQualitative2026Experiences of older people in Long-Term Care Institutions in light of the theory of Liquid Modernity.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S POlder people in long-term care often described institutionalization as imposed by family, with lost autonomy, loneliness, and rigid routines. They also valued safety, basic care, and staff attention. This reports their experiences, not tested interventions.
• PTOTRNOther2026The Moderating Effect of Physical Activity on the Association Between Cognitive Function and Fear of Falling in Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Research in gerontological nursingCognitive function was not linked to fear of falling in low-income community-dwelling older adults without measured cognitive impairment, and physical activity did not appear to change this link. More sitting time was linked to more fear; more moderate-to-vigorous activity was linked to less fear.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2026Patient-Driven Grouping Model and Home Health Use Among Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health visits and episode length fell after PDGM, especially for beneficiaries with dementia. Therapy visits drove much of the decline, and the largest reductions appeared in advanced dementia. This is service use, not proof of harm.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2026Applying the Brief Interview for Mental Status in a Diverse Home Health Patient Population.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost home health patients score as cognitively intact on the BIMS, but non-English speakers and minority patients score lower regardless of actual ability. This tool misses mild impairment and should not be used alone to judge a patient's cognition.
• OTQualitative2026Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in the Farming Community. A Preliminary Qualitative Study of Carers' Perceptions of Risks and Barriers to Care.The Australian journal of rural healthSeven informal carers of farmers with dementia described geographic isolation, farm hazards, family strain, delayed government support and thin local services as barriers. Some also valued staying on the familiar farm.
• OTQualitative2026Challenges in Transitional Phases of Foster Care for Older Adults: Perspectives of Foster Caregivers.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesFoster caregivers said some older adults arrived needing two helpers to move, needing toileting or eating support, or having night restlessness. These needs made home placements unsuitable. They wanted a functional assessment before admission to prevent strain.
• PTOTQualitative2026Iranian Older Adults' Experiences of the Age-friendliness of Kashan City: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyOlder adults in Kashan described unsafe sidewalks, steep ramps, high bus steps, poor seating, dismissive staff and inaccessible technology as barriers to mobility, participation and independence. They felt forgotten.
• OTQualitative2026Multidisciplinary team's experiences caring for older adults in the Therapeutic Residential Service.Revista brasileira de enfermagemStaff caring for older adults in therapeutic housing described rewarding personal bonds but also fear, burnout and barriers to individual plans from short staffing, money and aging; they wanted home-like autonomy support.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026Caregivers' Perceptions of End-of-Life Care in Brazil: A Qualitative Systematic Review.Revista brasileira de enfermagemBrazilian end-of-life caregivers valued easy team access, family support, and clear talk about death. They also reported overload, financial strain, distrust of palliative care, and reliance on faith and resilience.
• OTSurvey2026Associated factors of successful aging among community-dwelling older adults in a rural area of Indonesia: a cross-sectional study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAmong 104 rural Indonesian older adults, those still working and those living 1 to 5 km from a health facility were associated with higher successful aging scores. Age, education, income, chronic disease, spouse satisfaction and community involvement were not.
• PTOTRNQualitative2026Community-Dwelling Older Adults' Experience With Activity Trackers: Effects of Monitoring Physical Activity.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults in a community exercise program said tracking with a Fitbit helped them set goals, feel more active, manage fear of falling, and describe changes in memory, social connection, and function. These were self-reported experiences, not proof the tracker caused change.
• OTRNSurvey2026Understanding Differences in Resident Loneliness/Isolation Across US Nursing Homes: A Multilevel Analysis of MDS 3.0 Data.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOne in five long-stay nursing home residents reported feeling lonely or isolated. Much of the variation was between nursing homes, not counties. Residents with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, hearing or vision impairment, or low CNA care were more likely to report it.
• OTRNCohort2026Impact of Cognitive Status at Skilled Nursing Facility Admission on Days Spent at Home Over the Year Following Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAmong older adults with traumatic brain injury discharged to skilled nursing, lower brief cognitive screen scores at admission were linked with fewer days at home over the next year. Severe impairment had the lowest days at home.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026A Systematic Review of Worldwide Guidelines, Protocols, and Health Care Standards for Provision of Palliative Care Services in Progressive Neurological Disorders.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingPalliative care guidelines for progressive neurological disorders emphasize symptom management, caregiver support and early planning, but spiritual wellbeing is rarely covered and no guideline addresses all four WHO domains.
• OTOther2025Dementia in Intellectual Disability: An Exploratory Investigation of Comorbidity Patterns and Diagnostic Outcomes.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRMost comparisons between adults with intellectual disability with and without dementia showed no clear differences. The dementia group was more likely to have Down syndrome and less likely to have affective disorders.
• OTOther2026Development and validation of a prediction model for activities of daily living dysfunction among stroke survivors: insights from the CHARLS cohort.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis model flags stroke survivors more likely to have current ADL difficulty using depression, older age, falls, hypertension, arthritis, lung disease, social contact, sleep and drinking. It was not tested in practice.
• OTCohort2026Multidimensional Preinjury Health and 6-month Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults Presenting With Mainly GCS 13-15.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAdding pre-injury frailty and daily-function measures to existing prediction models did not improve prediction in older adults with mostly mild traumatic brain injury, although the measures were linked to worse 6-month recovery.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Low-Frequency STN-DBS for Standing and Gait Initiation in Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomised Cross-Over Feasibility Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSwitching to low-frequency brain stimulation improved standing balance and movement initiation in Parkinson's, but caused tremor to return in 10 of 16 patients off medication. Clinical mobility scores did not change, so the benefit is only visible on specialised force-plate tests.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Functional recovery and mortality after intensive inpatient rehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury in older adults: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder adults after severe acquired brain injury who had swallowing problems and diabetes at admission had poorer function at discharge. Death during inpatient rehabilitation was more common in older patients.
• PTOTCohort2026Early Gait Responsiveness as a Predictor of Functional Trajectory in Older Adults Undergoing Postacute Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn older adults in postacute rehab, walking distance that increased faster during the first five therapy sessions predicted better discharge function. Each extra meter per session was linked to a 2.6-point higher FIM motor score. This is an observational signal, not proof that changing therapy dose improves outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026A Systematic Review of Stair Fall Risk Assessment Instruments in Older Adults.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStair-specific tests can add useful information to fall-risk assessment in older adults, but none is complete enough to stand alone. Timed stair tests and STEPS have the best evidence; self-report stair confidence tools are less established.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Deaf older adults' experiences of receiving old age care support.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationSix Swedish Deaf older adults said care staff who did not sign left them unable to choose help, share needs, or trust visits. They relied on relatives, paper notes, lip-reading, and felt isolated.
• PTOTPilot2026Adjustable Pediatric Prosthetic Sockets to Accommodate Growth in Children and Adolescents With Limb Loss.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildren using an adjustable prosthesis reported better temperature regulation and adjustability than with their conventional devices. Gait speed and socket pressure were unchanged. Half preferred the adjustable socket, but running was often limited by the attached foot components.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity measured using a triaxial accelerometer in early after surgery rehabilitation in patients with hip fracture affects walking ability: a retrospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder hip fracture patients with more active time in early rehab sessions were more likely to walk independently at one and two weeks. Thresholds were 21.6% at one week and 17.8% at two weeks. This is an association, not proof.
• OTSLPOther2026'It Is of Course About Being Human Together': Co-Development of a Primary Progressive Aphasia Awareness Campaign to Enhance Understanding of Speech and Language Therapy.International journal of language & communication disordersPeople with primary progressive aphasia and families co-created an awareness campaign. UK webinar feedback from 61 respondents rated the event 9.2 of 10, and many said it increased knowledge of PPA and speech therapy. It does not show more referrals.
• PTOTCohort2026Association between 6-month changes in 4-m usual gait time and social function domain score among community-dwelling older adults: a secondary analysis of a community-based program.Journal of physical therapy scienceOver 6 months, older adults whose self-paced 4-m walking time slowed also showed worse social function scores. Walking time and social scores moved together, but the study did not show one caused the other.
• PTOTSurvey2026Participant-Reported Reductions in Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Associated With Variable-Friction Footwear: Retrospective Pre-Post Survey Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with neurological or age-related conditions reported fewer falls, injurious falls, and health care use while wearing variable-friction shoes, but this was a self-selected retrospective survey, not evidence the shoes caused the change.
• PTOTCohort2026Short-term changes in frailty status and associated factors over 3 months of multidisciplinary outpatient care in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHalf of 100 older adults improved frailty over 3 months. Daily home exercise was associated with improvement, but medical, nutrition, exercise, supervised rehab, nursing and social support were given together, so no single component can be credited.
• OTSurvey2026Association Between Smartphone Application Diversity and Occupational Participation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyOlder adults using five or more smartphone apps daily reported higher overall occupational participation, especially productivity. When other factors were accounted for, productivity remained associated; leisure and self-care did not. This is association, not proof apps improve participation.
• OTQualitative2026Opportunities and Challenges for Health-Promoting Interventions for Older Adults: A Focus Group Study with Professionals in Municipal Health and Social Care.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyProfessionals said Swedish municipal health and social care lacked structures, shared responsibility, and time for health-promoting work with older adults. They saw groups and digital meetings as useful, but not yet ready to change routine practice.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Reduced Cognitive-Motor Interference on Voluntary Balance Control in Older Tai Chi Practitioners.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults who practiced Tai Chi showed less decline in balance and thinking speed when doing both tasks at once compared to non-practitioners. They moved their center of pressure quicker and made fewer errors on the counting task while balancing.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2017Determining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)No single test identified fallers reliably. Combining Berg Balance ≤50, Timed Up and Go ≥12 s, single-limb stance <6.5 s, walking speed <1.0 m/s, and five times sit-to-stand ≥12 s raised estimated fall chance above 30% baseline.
• PTOTOther2016Kinesio Taping® of the metacarpophalangeal joints and its effect on pain and hand function in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn older adults with rheumatoid arthritis, Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints reduced hand pain and increased MCP ulnar deviation, but did not improve grip strength or overall hand function. Joint protection workshops improved grip strength and some daily activities.
• PTOTOther2016Factors associated with attitudes and beliefs of elders with acute low back pain: data from the study Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE).Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn elders with acute low back pain, higher disability, more depressive symptoms, and lower expectation of returning to activities were associated with more negative back-pain beliefs. The study cannot show these factors caused the beliefs.
• PTOTCohort2016Factors associated with the recovery of activities of daily living after hospitalization for acute medical illness: a prospective cohort study.Journal of physical therapy scienceLonger time from illness onset to starting rehabilitation was associated with poorer recovery of daily activities. Among patients who had been independent before illness, better cognition was associated with better recovery; among those partially dependent, better nutrition was associated with better recovery.
• PTOTOther2016The effect of performing a dual-task on postural control and selective attention of older adults when stepping backward.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults had slower reactions, more errors, and greater sway when stepping backward. Adding a tone task made reaction times slower in both groups, but sway did not differ between single and dual task.
• OTOther2016Mahjong playing and eye-hand coordination in older adults-a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder mahjong players mostly matched non-players on stationary pointing with the dominant hand. They had better non-dominant accuracy and faster, more accurate pointing to moving targets. This cross-sectional study cannot show mahjong caused the differences.
• PTOTOther2017Stride variability measures derived from wrist- and hip-worn accelerometers.Gait & postureWrist-worn accelerometers can track walking rhythm and activity levels as well as hip-worn devices in healthy older adults. However, they cannot reliably measure stride-to-stride variability. Use wrist data for general activity counts, but do not expect it to detect subtle inconsistencies in walking.
• PTOTOther2016Comparison of older adults' visual perceptual skills, cognitive function, and fall efficacy according to fall risk in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults classified as at risk for falls had lower visual perception, cognition, and fall efficacy scores than those not at risk. Scores were correlated, but this cannot show that training these skills prevents falls.
• PTOTOther2016Effects of community-based rehabilitation program on activities of daily living and cognition in elderly chronic stroke survivors.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with chronic stroke who took part in a monthly community rehabilitation program combining exercise and crafts improved in daily activities and cognition. Only eleven finished, and there was no control group.