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.

1,442 PAPERS · PAGE 5 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2024A Meta-Analysis of Fall Risk in Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAcross studies, 44.27% of older adults with Alzheimer's disease fell at least once a year, and 42.08% of those fallers fell again. Use this high fall risk to guide tailored fall-risk assessment and prevention planning.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024Perspectives and experiences of community-dwelling older adults who experience falling: A qualitative meta-synthesis.International journal of nursing sciencesOlder adults after falls described pain, fear, less activity and independence, and social withdrawal. Some blamed themselves, denied falls, or saw them as inevitable; others used walking aids, home changes, and slowing down.
• PTOTRNSurvey2024What is the burden of multimorbidity and the factors associated with its occurrence in elderly Brazilians?Revista brasileira de enfermagemOver half of community-dwelling elderly Brazilians have two or more chronic conditions. Being female, older, having low education, smoking in the past, being physically inactive, and high screen time were associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence.
• PTOTRNPilot2024Long-Term Effect of a Tablet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention on Step Count, Fatigue, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Arthritis: A Pilot Study.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults with arthritis who received a tablet program with Fitbit tracking, four weekly video CBT walking sessions, and homework reported more steps, less fatigue, higher self-efficacy, and better quality of life than controls over 10 weeks. Small pilot.
• PTQualitative2024Interprofessional approach to fall prevention in hospital care.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHospital staff described communication with patients and carers, and between professions, as central to fall prevention. They often saw nursing as mainly responsible, reported role gaps, and said slow, separate medical-record systems reduced bedside time.
• PTRNSurvey2024Sleep quality and falls in middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAdults aged 50 to 84 who rated their sleep quality low reported a fall in the past year more often. The pattern held across each five-year age band and after adjusting for sex and activity.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024Qualitative Description of Exercise Perceptions and Experiences Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the High-Intensity Exercise to Attenuate Limitations and Train Habits Study.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingMost older adults with HIV stopped exercising due to practical life changes like relocation or cost, but their current barriers were physical pain, fatigue, and medication side effects. Providers often encouraged activity, but participants frequently perceived this advice as pressure rather than support.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Inpatients' experiences of falls: A qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingPatients who fell in hospital often misjudged their balance, avoided calling nurses, and could not find or reach the call bell. They then feared walking independently. Ask why they did not call for help.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024Crosswalk Algorithms for Cognitive and Functional Outcomes Among 2013-2018 Medicare Beneficiaries With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health admission scores often disagree with nursing facility discharge scores for patients with dementia. Cognitive impairment can be ruled out reliably using specific OASIS items, but ADL limitations are over-identified, making cross-setting comparisons unreliable.
• PTRNPilot2024Paramedic-Assisted Community Evaluation After Discharge: The PACED Intervention.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationParamedic home visits within 72 hours of discharge were feasible for frail older adults, found medication discrepancies and fall risks, and were associated with lower 30-day rehospitalization in this unblinded study.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: Support Priorities of Caregivers of Older Adults.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresCaregivers of older adults in Saskatchewan prioritized immediate practical help, especially homecare and long-term care access, plus being listened to by healthcare teams. They also wanted clearer information, respite, and workplace and policy supports.
• PTRNRCT2024Feasibility of a Novel Lighting System to Reduce Nighttime Falls in Assisted Living Residents With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNighttime doorframe lights did not show a clear fall reduction in assisted-living residents with dementia. The pilot was feasible. Observed falls were 8.6 with lights and 14.3 with standard nightlights per 1000 nights; the final analysis did not rule out no effect.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Skilled Nursing Facility Rehabilitation Intensity and Successful Discharge in Persons with Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationVeterans with dementia after heart failure hospitalization who received more combined weekly audiology, speech-language, occupational and physical therapy were more likely to return home successfully. The study cannot show any single therapy caused this.
• PTOTQualitative2025Nurses' Descriptions of Interdisciplinary Interactions in Stroke and Geriatric Rehabilitation Units: A Case Example of the Registered Practical Nurse.Journal of advanced nursingThirty-one Ontario registered practical nurses said rehab team interactions depended on clear roles and communication: they carried over therapy, followed therapist transfer and swallowing directives, and used whiteboards/charts. These are perceptions, not patient outcomes.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024Age-Friendly Healthcare: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingOlder adult care is described as age-friendly when it supports autonomy, accessible environments, continuity, communication and prevention of care-related harm. The literature is fragmented, and patient outcome measurement is limited.
• PTOTPilot2025Effects of the Vitality Acupunch Exercise Program on Older Adults With Probable Sarcopenia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study.Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' AssociationIn nursing-home residents with probable sarcopenia, a 24-week seated acupunch program did not improve the main physical outcomes overall, but handgrip strength was higher at the end and participants described greater strength and enjoyment.
• PTOTRNSurvey2024Prevalence and Risk Factors of Self-Reported Sarcopenia and Its Association With Multimorbidity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing & health sciencesCommunity older adults with two or more chronic conditions had self-reported sarcopenia more often: 43.5% versus 20.8%. Consider SARC-F to flag low strength, walking assistance, rising, stairs and falls in multimorbid patients.
• PTOTRNOther2024Multidisciplinary Inpatient Community Rehabilitation Programmes for Frail Older People: A Scoping Review.Nursing openMultidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation for frail older people is reported in few studies, mostly focused on mobility and function. The intervention studies had no control group, and outcomes varied widely, so the review cannot show which programme works.
• PTOTRNPilot2024A Pilot Home-Telehealth Program to Enhance Functional Ability, Physical Performance, and Physical Activity in Older Adult Veterans Post-Hospital Discharge.Research in gerontological nursingA 6-month home telehealth program with a physical activity trainer nearly doubled daily steps in older veterans post-discharge. Functional ability and physical performance showed modest, non-significant improvements. High dropout rates and small sample size limit conclusions on efficacy.
• PTOTRNOther2024Purposes and characteristics of virtual reality technologies for the elderly in the community: a scoping review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemCommunity older adults used VR for balance, gait, strength, cognition, mood, and leisure. Devices included screens, Kinect, goggles, and sensors; only four studies reported dizziness, nausea or anxiety, so safety reporting was incomplete.
• PTRNPilot2024Feasibility of Using Rebound Exercise in Community-Dwelling Adults With Neurological Disorders.Nursing & health sciencesSupervised mini-trampoline rebound exercise was feasible and safe for community-dwelling adults with neurological disorders: 52 of 53 completed 12 weeks with no adverse events. Walking speed, blood pressure and activity improved, but without a control group efficacy is not proven.
• PTRNQualitative2024An Outdoor Walking Program for Immigrant Muslim Older Adults: A Community-Based Participatory Intervention.Nursing openOlder immigrant Muslim adults reported a 10-week outdoor walking program was acceptable and motivating when sessions included social time, language and cultural support, and Fitbit step tracking. Transportation and activity literacy were main barriers.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2025Non-Pharmacological Interventions Targeting Sense of Coherence Among Older Adults and Adults With Chronic Conditions: A Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis.Journal of advanced nursingNon-drug programmes improved older adults' and chronic disease patients' sense of coherence, their confidence that life is manageable, for up to 3 months. Salutogenic programmes had short-term benefit; self-management was less firm; exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and nurse-led education did not show stable benefit.
• PTCohort2025Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity at any Dose Reduces All-Cause Dementia Risk Regardless of Frailty Status.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationCompared with no weekly moderate-to-vigorous activity, even 1 to 35 minutes was linked with 41% lower all-cause dementia risk. The link was similar across frailty groups. This is an observational association, not proof that activity prevents dementia.
• PTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Exergaming on Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingFrailty scores did not differ significantly between exergaming and control. Exergaming matched conventional exercise and improved frailty status versus usual care, but certainty was very low.
• PTOTQualitative2025Health Professional Perceptions of Delivering Hospital Falls Prevention Education-A Qualitative Study.Western journal of nursing researchHealth professionals supported hospital falls education but said short stays, busy wards, cognitive impairment, risk-taking, and English-only materials made delivery hard. They identified PTs and OTs as most suitable to deliver it.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Successful Care Conferences: Nursing Home Staff, Persons with Dementia, and Caregiver Perspectives.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing home staff and families identified three keys to successful virtual care conferences: keeping the resident present and driving the discussion, ensuring direct-care staff like CNAs attend and prepare, and using a trained facilitator to manage the agenda and technology.
• PTOTRNSurvey2025Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior on Daily Living Activities and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing & health sciencesIn 506 older adults, higher fear-of-falling avoidance was linked with lower independence in basic daily activities and lower physical activity. This was an association, not proof that avoidance causes decline.
• PTRNOther2025Influence of frailty and cognitive decline on dual task performance in older adults: an analytical cross-sectional study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemFrailty was associated with slower gait and dual-task walking in 219 older adults; cognitive decline was not related to these walking times.
• PTRNCohort2025Falls in Hospitals: Challenging Traditional Risk Assessments With New Insights Into Patient Mobility.Journal of advanced nursingHospitalised patients with lower mobility capability fell more often. Actual mobility showed a U-shaped pattern: bed-level and high-walking patients fell less than those in between. Capability and performance may identify different fall risks.
• PTOTQualitative2025Identifying Patient, Care Partner, and Clinician Needs for Functional Recovery Following Hospitalization When Dementia is Present.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationVeterans with dementia and care partners wanted clearer discharge communication, involvement in decisions, and home support; PTs and OTs needed time, training, equipment, and tools for home rehabilitation.
• PTRNQualitative2025Older Adults' Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Access and Adoption of the Technology-Based Physio-Feedback Exercise Program.Research in gerontological nursingOlder adults found this tech-based fall-prevention exercise program easy and social. Friends and group sessions kept them involved; balance feedback motivated drinking more water and walking carefully. Few reported barriers.
• PTCohort2025Behavioral and Functional Adaptation to Chronic Stress in Older Adults.Nursing researchIn 3,075 adults aged 50 or older, higher stress was linked to less physical activity and more perceived physical limitation. Perceived stress and physical limitation helped explain the pattern.
• PTOther2025Associations between physical activity, glucose variability, and cognitive function in older adults with type 2 diabetes.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Physical activity was not linked to cognitive function overall in older adults with diabetes. In people with lower cognitive scores, more activity tracked with better scores, but that was not the main test. Glucose swings were not linked to activity or cognition.
• PTRNOther2025The development and application of the mobile frailty management platform for Chinese community-dwelling older adults.International journal of nursing sciencesFrail or pre-frail older adults using a WeChat platform plus routine community care had better frailty status, mood, sleep, grip strength and quality of life at 12 weeks. The platform bundled exercise, nutrition, education and monitoring, so single parts cannot be separated.
• PTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Physical Activity on Health Among Informal Caregivers of People With Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Western journal of nursing researchPhysical activity for caregivers of people with cognitive decline did not improve stress, depression, caregiver burden, quality of life, walking endurance, leg strength, moving balance, or anxiety. It improved standing balance and psychological well-being.
• PTOTRNCohort2025Multimorbidity, Muscle Strength, and Falls among Older Mexican Americans.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAmong older Mexican Americans with no prior falls, high grip strength was linked to fewer falls over 12 years, even with multimorbidity. No multimorbidity was linked to even fewer falls.
• PTOTRNPilot2025Real-Time Fatigue and Physical Activity of Older Adults in Assisted Living: Feasibility of Ecological Momentary Assessment.Western journal of nursing researchReal-time monitoring of fatigue and movement worked in assisted living residents. For wheelchair users, activity was linked to higher fatigue shortly after, but for walkers, there was no link. This is a small pilot, so treat these findings as preliminary.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTRNCohort2025Total Distance Walked After Hip Surgery Identifies Older Patients With Sarcopenia.Nursing & health sciencesOlder hip fracture patients who walked shorter total distances on discharge day were more likely to have sarcopenia. Sex-specific distance cut-offs may help flag probable or confirmed sarcopenia during inpatient rehabilitation.
• PTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Resistance Exercise in Older Adults With Sarcopenic Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.The journal of nursing research : JNRResistance exercise improved grip strength and reduced percentage body fat in older adults with sarcopenic obesity, but did not improve gait speed or body mass index. The grip strength result may be overstated.
• 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.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2025Efficacy and safety of exercise rehabilitation in the vulnerable phase in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesExercise rehabilitation in the first three months after discharge for acute heart failure improves walking distance, physical performance, and quality of life. It reduces all-cause readmissions by six months. However, it does not significantly improve heart pumping function, reduce heart failure-specific readmissions, or lower mortality rates.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Quality of life experience in physically frail people on renal dialysis: A qualitative meta-synthesis on the difficulties and resources for better health care.International journal of nursing sciencesDialysis patients described frailty as limiting daily activity, increasing fall risk, and stripping work, family, and social roles. They also said teams underestimated falls, while family, peers, and exercise programs were reported as supports.
• 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.
• PTQualitative2026Dementia-Friendly Hospital-The Perspective of Professional Dementia Experts.Journal of clinical nursingExperts described a dementia-friendly hospital as seeing the person with dementia, welcoming relatives, adapting routines and environment, and making care a whole-team task. These are views, not tested outcomes.
• 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.