TOPIC

Older adults research

Everything we have read on older adults. 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.

659 PAPERS · PAGE 12 OF 14 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNQualitative2026Navigating prognostic uncertainty with H.O.P.E.: Caring for elderly patients with chronic kidney disease.Patient education and counselingOlder adults with advanced kidney disease wanted clinicians to ask how much prognostic information they wanted, not assume. Some wanted direct early talk; others wanted delay until they asked. Nurses can offer support, plain language, and hope without forcing disclosure.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Weekly Walking Attenuates the Association Between Frailty and Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.Research in nursing & healthIn adults with rheumatoid arthritis, frailty was linked to more depressive symptoms. Walking at least 3.5 days per week appeared to break this link. The association between frailty and depression was no longer significant in those who walked more frequently.
• RNCohort2026Impact of invasive mechanical ventilation support on renal function in critically ill patients.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PIn 51 ICU patients on invasive ventilation, acute kidney injury was common and severe; those with AKI had higher organ-failure and nursing-workload scores. Longer ventilation went with higher ventilator pressure and stay, not more deaths.
• RNCohort2026Care Needs for Patients Screened Positive for Cognitive Impairment and Delirium: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.Journal of advanced nursingOn one audit day, 42.1% of hospitalised adults had possible cognitive impairment or delirium. Those with higher 4AT scores had more documented need for help with washing, dressing, toileting, eating and moving, and more incontinence, falls, pressure injury and nutrition risks.
• RNCohort2026The Association Between Home-Visit Nursing Use and the Incidence of Potentially Avoidable Hospitalisation and Its Duration Among Community-Dwelling Older People: A 12-Month Prospective Cohort Study.International journal of older people nursingAfter accounting for differences, home-visit nursing use was associated with lower chance of hospital stays that might have been avoided with home care. It was not associated with fewer hospital days.
• RNQualitative2026Family Caregiver Perspectives on Advance Care Planning Discussions for Residents With Dementia Led by Trained Nursing Home Staff: Insights From the APPROACHES Project.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationCaregivers of nursing home residents with dementia often described advance care planning as mainly code status. They valued staff who listened, explained clearly, did not push, and followed through, but vague information and uncertainty made decisions hard.
• 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.
• OTRNSurvey2026Dignity Among Older Persons in Long-Term Care Institutions in Taiwan and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.The journal of nursing research : JNR48.9% of 188 older residents in southern Taiwan long-term care institutions reported low dignity. Fewer or no children, lower daily living independence, inability to walk, higher education, and depression were associated with low dignity.
• 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%).
• RNOther2026Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence, 2019-2022.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemReported domestic violence in Maputo fell 42% during the pandemic, but authors warn this likely reflects underreporting, not safer homes. Adult women had the highest rates; girls showed sexual violence and older women abuse.
• RNOther2026A Point Prevalence Study of the Provision of Palliative Care for Adult Inpatients With Mental Health Issues.Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses AssociationMost adult mental health inpatients identified as potentially benefiting from palliative care had no evidence of referral or care provision. Older adult wards contained most of the patients with potential palliative care needs.
• RNCohort2026Concordance Between the Minimum Data Set Kidney Impairment I1500 Item and eGFR Records in Nursing Homes.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationThe MDS kidney impairment item agreed with eGFR below 60 in only 60.3% of nursing home assessments. It identified 25.8% of assessments with eGFR below 60. Use lab eGFR for kidney monitoring and medication safety.
• RNCohort2026Influence of alcohol on the worsening of COVID-19 and the occurrence of long COVID.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemAlcohol use before infection did not directly cause long COVID, but it was associated with hospitalization, which was directly related to long COVID. Nurses should screen for alcohol use to identify patients at higher risk of severe acute disease requiring admission.
• RNCohort2026Accidents from falls among hospitalized patients in Emergency Units: a multicenter study.Revista brasileira de enfermagemMost emergency-unit falls happened from stretchers (68.2%), and admission fall-risk assessment was documented in only 42.7% of records. Among documented harm categories, 50.0% had no harm, but 5.6% died. Nurses should treat older, confused, agitated patients on stretchers as high risk.
• RNSurvey2026Pathways to self-management among older adults with multimorbidity in rural China: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesIn 487 rural older adults with multiple chronic conditions, high self-efficacy sat at the centre of good self-management. Social support, resilience and resource access shaped different pathways, while low self-efficacy marked poor self-management.
• RNQualitative2026Addressing Older Adults' Sexual Health Needs in Regional Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers.The Australian journal of rural healthSexual health is important to older adults in regional Australia, but conversations with clinicians remain rare and ad-hoc. Patients and clinicians both prefer GPs over nurses for these discussions. Barriers include stigma, lack of privacy in small towns, and time constraints.
• RNOther2026Defining diagnostic disclosure in the acute care setting: A concept analysis.International journal of nursing studiesFull diagnostic disclosure in acute care means a clinician names the diagnosis and explains it to the hospitalized adult. Partial or euphemistic talk is not enough. Nurses can check patient awareness and advocate for a clear disclosure conversation.
• RNCohort2026Triggers, Responses, and Outcomes for Patient Related Violence and/or Aggression Events During Acute Hospitalisation: A Documentary Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingAcute ward Code Grey calls for patient aggression were often triggered by agitation, wanting to leave, wandering and confusion. Physical and chemical restraint were common responses, while reported injuries were few.
• RNOther2026Association of dietary energy and protein intake with frailty among patients with cirrhosis and implications for nursing practice.International journal of nursing sciencesHigher energy, protein, and animal-protein intake were linked to lower frailty in patients with cirrhosis. Thresholds were 30 kcal/(kg·d) energy and 0.83 g/(kg·d) protein. This is association only, not proof diet prevents frailty.
• RNQualitative2026Responding to Older Adult Maltreatment: Interdisciplinary Geriatric Care Provider Experiences and Training Needs.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresProviders recognized abuse well but hesitated to report it due to fear of being labeled whistleblowers or losing jobs. They lacked clear knowledge of where to report and felt unsupported by supervisors and large caseloads.
• RNCase-Control2026Predicting Falls With the Morse Fall Scale: A Retrospective Assessment at the Veterans Health Administration.Clinical nursing researchThe Morse Fall Scale poorly identified Veterans who would fall in hospital. Adding comorbidity and mortality scores improved prediction only slightly and still did not separate fallers well.
• RNNarrative Review2026Implementing Pain Management Approaches Among Patients With Dementia in an Acute Hospital Setting: A Scoping Review.Nursing openValid pain assessment tools exist for dementia, but using them alone does not reduce pain. Nurses often miss pain-related agitation despite high knowledge scores. Effective care requires embedding assessment in person-centred protocols with training and managerial support.
• 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.
• RNCohort2026Patterns of Daily Administration of Psychoactive Drug Classes for Distress Behavior in Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn nursing home residents with dementia, antipsychotic and benzodiazepine administration rose sharply around documented distress behavior incidents and persisted 30 days; antidepressant and anti-epileptic classes did not show the same pattern.
• RNRCT2026Exploring older adults' tolerance of uncertainty in colorectal cancer screening decisions.Patient education and counselingNeither tolerance of ambiguity nor tolerance of complexity was linked to older adults' intentions to follow through with colorectal cancer screening. Higher ambiguity tolerance was linked to greater perceived benefit, and tolerance of both types was linked to lower concern about harms.
• RNOther2026Using Natural Language Processing to Improve Fall Documentation in VA Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn VA nursing homes, a text-mining tool found more falls and exact dates than MDS reports, and found chart-documented falls that MDS missed. Use MDS fall counts cautiously.
• 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.
• RNQualitative2026Advancing Knowledge Translation Through Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention for Latino Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia Using Participatory Action Research.International journal of nursing practiceLatino family caregivers described learning dementia care by trial and error and lacking Spanish-language training. Adaptation recommendations added dementia education, self-care, hospice concerns, and family participation to a caregiver training programme. It does not test whether the adapted programme works.
• RNSystematic Review2026Communication and Medication-Related Deprescribing for Healthcare Professionals: A Rapid Review of the Literature.Worldviews on evidence-based nursingExisting deprescribing tools for older adults rarely give nurses explicit communication guidance. Five strategies were found embedded in frameworks: encouraging participation, active listening, feedback, adapting communication, and shared decision making.
• 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.
• RNQualitative2026Stakeholders' Perspectives on Implementing the iSupport for Dementia Program to Address Inequalities in Dementia Care: A Qualitative Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesCarers and staff said translated self-guided dementia training may not reach culturally and linguistically diverse carers unless bilingual staff coach them, use simpler inclusive language, add short videos and local case studies, and embed peer support in existing care services.
• 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.
• RNOther2026Nursing diagnosis "Inadequate health literacy" in older adults: content validity.Revista brasileira de enfermagemNurses can now use a validated checklist to spot inadequate health literacy in older adults. The tool focuses on signs like hesitancy to ask questions, difficulty navigating systems, and dependence on others' opinions, helping staff identify patients who need clearer communication.
• RNQualitative2026Pain and Pain Management in Austrian Nursing Home Residents' Daily Lives: A Qualitative Study Guided by an Integrated Quality of Life Model for Older Adults.Nursing & health sciencesNursing home residents often hide their pain to avoid being a burden, viewing it as whining. They perceive staff as too rushed and unskilled to help beyond medication. This leads to residents self-managing pain alone, creating a gap between what they need and what they receive.
• RNRCT2026A Home-Based Online Psychoeducation Programme on Subjective Well-Being Amongst Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Frailty: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.International journal of older people nursingHome-based online psychoeducation for frail older adults was feasible and acceptable, with 81% attendance and satisfaction 4.4 to 4.6 of 5. Well-being improved in the intervention group, but this small pilot cannot prove it worked.
• RNSurvey2026Supportive Care Needs and Associated Factors Among Family Caregivers of Elderly Patients With Dementia and Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing openFamily caregivers of older adults with dementia and diabetes rated physiological, emotional, and safety needs highest. Caregiver burden was associated with most need domains, but not social needs. Needs varied by caregiver age, sex, income, and living situation.
• RNOther2026How Can Community Paramedics Help in Addressing Mental Health for Vulnerable Australians?The Australian journal of rural healthRural clients described the community paramedic clinic as helping mental health by connecting them to services and by reducing loneliness, food insecurity and physical health worries. It shows what clients valued, not that the clinic works.
• RNCohort2026The Trajectory of Activities of Daily Living and Its Influencing Factors in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study.Nursing openOlder adults' daily living abilities worsened nonlinearly over seven years. Women, older age, and multiple chronic diseases predicted faster decline. Depression and low social activity were linked to worse function, suggesting nurses should screen these factors early to identify high-risk patients.
• 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.
• RNQualitative2026Exploring How Gerontological Nursing Telephone Support Can Assist Informal Caregivers of Older Adults at Hospital Discharge-A Qualitative Study.Journal of clinical nursingThe linked trial found no significant difference in caregivers' health-related quality of life, the primary outcome. Caregivers described the FECH+ nurse support programme, with calls, a booklet, resources, needs assessment and problem-solving coaching, as helping them plan and feel more confident.
• RNCohort2026Risk Profiles in Hospitalized Adults Based on Functional Capacity, Pressure Injury Risk, and Fall Risk: A Cluster and Multiple Correspondence Analysis.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingHospital admission assessments grouped adults into low, moderate, and high combined risk profiles for dependency, pressure injuries, and falls. Older patients, women, and urgent medical admissions were more likely to be high risk.
• RNQualitative2026The Experiences of Family Caregivers Whose Relative Is Relocating From a Regular Nursing Home to an Innovative Living Arrangement: A Qualitative Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesFamily caregivers of older adults with dementia described relocation as stressful and uncertain, especially about communication with staff. They liked the homelike, green new settings but worried about safety and the new way of working.
• RNOther2026Robustness in Older Adults: A Concept Analysis Using Rodgers' Evolutionary Approach.Nursing & health sciencesRobustness in older adults is more than non-frailty. It combines multidimensional vitality, resilient stability, and functional autonomy, and is linked to resources, lifestyle, and social networks.
• RNOther2026How to Involve Families in Hospital Care: Development, Content Validation, and Feasibility of a Concise Family Assessment Framework.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesA brief family assessment framework for hospital admission was built from existing tools, validated by 34 experts, endorsed by 10 family members, and judged feasible by 10 nurses. It guides conversations about family roles, needs and burden, not patient outcomes.
• RNOther2026Effectiveness of a Web-Based Communication Education Program in Improving Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Family Caregivers of Nursing Home Residents: A Quasi-Experimental Study.The journal of nursing research : JNRFamily caregivers of nursing home residents who completed a 4-week web-based communication course reported significantly better knowledge and self-efficacy than those receiving routine care. The program improved caregivers' confidence but did not test whether residents' actual communication experiences improved.
• RNSurvey2026Caregiver Burden, Social Support, and Depressive Symptoms Among Caregivers of Patients With Heart Failure.The journal of nursing research : JNRFamily caregivers of older heart failure patients with high burden had significantly more depressive symptoms. Social support mediated this link, meaning lack of support explained part of the depression risk. Assessing caregiver burden and support networks may help identify families needing intervention.
• RNSystematic Review2026From Nursing Homes to Geriatric Psychiatry: Contextual Factors Associated With the Admission of People With Dementia and Behaviour That Challenges-An Integrative Review.Nursing openAdmissions from nursing homes to geriatric psychiatry are driven by crises where care systems fail, not just patient behaviour. Poor communication, staff shortages, and lack of advance care planning are key factors, with many patients returning still distressed.
• RNOther2026Protected Engagement Time and Related Interventions: A Scoping Review of Experience and Outcomes, and Relevance to the Australian Context.International journal of mental health nursingIn older adult mental health units, adverse events were similar with and without protected engagement time. Other studies described better relationships and consumers feeling seen. Treat it as scheduled nurse time with consumers, not proven safety improvement.
• 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.
• RNSurvey2026Beyond Age: Exploring Health Literacy, Well-Being, and Stress Management Among the Elderly.Western journal of nursing researchOlder adults with higher traditional and digital health literacy reported better stress management and well-being. Stress management was linked to the relationship between health literacy and well-being. This single-time survey does not prove that improving literacy causes better well-being.