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.

283 PAPERS · PAGE 5 OF 6 · NEWEST FIRST

• 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.
• 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.
• RNOther2026Factors associated with osteoporosis in older adult women treated at a referral center.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PIn older women referred for bone density testing, being 80 or older and having a BMI below 27 were associated with osteoporosis. Other habits and conditions were not identified as associated.
• RNSystematic Review2026Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical nursingMost psychosocial interventions for informal dementia caregivers did not show clear loneliness improvement. One engaged coaching study reported improvement and some stress results were positive, but evidence is small and mixed.
• 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.
• RNSystematic Review2026Comparative efficacy of group versus individual reminiscence therapy for depression in older adults: A network meta-analysis stratified by severity.International journal of nursing sciencesIndividual and group reminiscence therapy work equally well for reducing depression in older adults overall. Group therapy ranked highest for mild cases, while individual therapy ranked higher for moderate-to-severe cases and showed greater benefits for anxiety and cognition.
• RNQualitative2026'A Moment for Me': The Role of Respite in Sustaining Mental Health Carers.International journal of mental health nursingCarers of adults with mental illness said respite was only restful when the person they cared for came home safe, happy and well supported. Guilt, cost, poor access and untrained staff kept them mentally on duty.
• RNOther2026Overburden of informal caregivers of older adults with Post-COVID Syndrome.Revista brasileira de enfermagemMost caregivers of older adults with post-COVID syndrome reported burden. Burden was linked to frailty or depression in the older adult and depressive symptoms in the caregiver. These were associations in 75 pairs, not proof of cause.
• 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.
• RNCohort2026A Retrospective Analysis of Deep Tissue Pressure Injury Prevalence and Incidence Using a Large-scale Wound Care Database in Long-term Care Settings Across North America.Advances in skin & wound careIn skilled nursing facilities in the United States and Canada, deep tissue pressure injury prevalence rose to 7.16% in 2021 and stayed at 6.20% in 2022 and 2023; rates were highest in the 81 to 90 age group and slightly higher in females.
• RNMeta-Analysis2026Association Between Frailty and Cognitive Impairment in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingFrail patients with chronic kidney disease had a 213% increase in likelihood of cognitive impairment compared with robust patients. Prefrail patients also had higher likelihood. The review found an association, not proof of cause or prevention.
• RNQualitative2026Qualitative Analysis of Community Dwelling Older Adults' Advance Care Planning Interviews: Patients Want a Chance.The American journal of hospice & palliative careOlder adults facing serious illness often chose full treatment and CPR because they wanted a chance to return to normal, even after acknowledging their illness was not curable and hearing that recovery after CPR was unlikely.
• RNQualitative2026Experiences of older adults who have lost a child: reflections on grief and for nursing.Revista brasileira de enfermagemOlder adults bereaved by a child’s death described grief as lasting and unlike other losses. They relied on faith, prayer, cemetery visits, and private mourning. These supports may matter to how nurses assess bereavement.
• 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.
• RNOther2026Trajectories of Medication Use Prior to Death in US Nursing Home Residents With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost deprescribing happened in the last three months of life. Hospice enrollment and severe functional decline predicted stopping medications. However, chronic drugs like anticoagulants and diuretics were rarely stopped, while symptom relief drugs like anxiolytics and antibiotics were often started.
• RNSystematic Review2026Utilization of electrodermal activity in nursing research: A mapping review.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSNursing articles using electrodermal activity included 91 mostly small studies, with healthy adults the largest group, and mostly used skin conductance. This mapping review does not show it is a clinical tool for patient assessment.
• RNSystematic Review2026Challenges and Strategies of Informal Caregivers in Medication Management for Older Adults: A Mixed Method Systematic Review.International journal of older people nursingInformal caregivers often took over older adults' medication tasks after decline or acute events. One study of 100 caregivers found almost 40% reported medication burden; another of 685 found 57% reported mistakes. They used pill boxes, alarms and lists.
• RNCohort2026Potential Drug-Drug Interactions With Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association85.9% of long-term care residents given nirmatrelvir/ritonavir also received a potentially interacting medication on the same day. Atorvastatin (28.1%), amlodipine (21.6%), and apixaban (15.9%) were common. This supports medication review, but does not show 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.
• RNSurvey2026The Effect of Caregiver Burden on Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours of People Caring for Patients With Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesHigher caregiver burden was linked to lower healthy lifestyle behaviours in caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. Social burden was the clearest burden dimension linked to lower health habits. The study cannot show cause.
• RNCohort2026Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Depressive and Behavioral Symptoms in US Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationLockdown did not produce clinically meaningful worsening in nursing home residents’ overall depression or behavior scores. Some residents with mild depression were more likely to worsen, and those with severe behavior symptoms were more likely to improve.
• RNSystematic Review2026Behind the Mask: Recognising the Person in Relatives of Nursing Home Residents-A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesRelatives of nursing home residents move between conflicting emotions like gratitude and guilt, and shift between roles such as advocate and observer, rather than occupying fixed positions. Their experience is a continuous negotiation of identity within institutional constraints.
• RNCohort2026Experiences and Perceptions of Patient Watch, a Rural Telehealth Case Management Model, for Frequent Presenters to the Emergency Department: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study.The Australian journal of rural healthFrequent ED presenters made fewer ED presentations after rural telehealth case management, but without a control the reduction cannot be attributed to the programme. Participants valued monitoring and coordination; some found calls repetitive, and quality of life did not improve.
• RNOther2026Delirium-Related Distress of Hospitalised Older Adults Within the Framework of the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms: A Scoping Review of Qualitative Literature.International journal of mental health nursingHospitalised older adults recalled delirium as frightening, lonely and confusing, with fear, shame and distrust. Family presence, calm validation and hand holding were described as easing distress, while rushed or critical staff communication was linked to more distress.
• RNSurvey2026Associations of dietary patterns, dietary motivations, and nutritional status with skeletal muscle mass in Chinese older adults: A structural equation modeling study.International journal of nursing sciencesStronger eating motivation was associated with better nutrition and higher muscle mass in rural Chinese older adults. A fruit, vegetable and rice pattern aligned with better nutrition, while an oil and condiment pattern clustered with poorer nutrition.
• RNQualitative2026Care Partner Perspectives on Hypertension Management in Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias in an Online Forum: Qualitative Thematic Analysis.JMIR nursingFamily caregivers of people with dementia and high blood pressure described changing medications without provider input, interpreting home readings without guidance, and managing refusal of care. Some also reported developing high blood pressure themselves.
• RNOther2026The Effect of a Peer-Led Non-Pharmacological Pain-Management Program on Chronic Pain Intensity and Pain-Related Self-Efficacy in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis: A Quasi-Experimental Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyPain intensity did not clearly decrease in the peer-led group, but pain self-efficacy scores rose from 36.99 to 54.45 on a 0-60 scale at two months.