Are antipsychotic drugs being appropriately prescribed to homebound patients with dementia?

New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society indicates that antipsychotics are likely overprescribed and used inappropriately among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) receiving home health care, and such use is linked to worse patient outcomes. Antipsychotic drugs are not approved for the treatment of dementia—they are mostly used off-label to manage the symptoms that many […]

Community-based services could reduce the risk of frailty in older adults with low care needs

Even if you are a lone wolf, considering some group activities may not be a bad idea, especially when it comes to healthcare. Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have found that community-based adult day services help lower the risk of frailty in older adults. Frailty is a state of physical and mental decline that results from aging; it represents an intermediate […]

MHRA (UK) approves Arexvy for prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus in adults 60 years of age and older – GSK

GSK plc announced that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised Arexvy (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted) for active immunisation for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults 60 years of age and older. This is the first time an RSV vaccine for older adults has been authorised […]

Adjunctive antipsychotic treatment appears to help elderly with treatment-resistant depression

Among patients over 60 with treatment-resistant depression, adding the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole (Abilify) to their treatment appears to be a more effective strategy than switching antidepressants. Researchers reported these findings on March 3, 2023 in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Often, unless a patient responds to the first treatment prescribed for depression, physicians follow a pattern in which they […]

Primary care program promoting senior health demonstrated acceptable reach and adoption but lacked clinical benefits

Researchers evaluated the feasibility of implementing the Health TAPESTRY (Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: STRengthening QualitY) primary care program across multiple sites, and the reproducibility of the effects found in a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT). Health TAPESTRY is aimed at helping older adults stay healthier longer. The study was a pragmatic, unblinded, six-month parallel group RCT. Eligible patients were […]

Skilled nursing facilities continued to provide high quality care for those hospitalized during the pandemic

Older adults who entered skilled nursing facilities (SNF) for care after hospitalizations after the pandemic received rehabilitation care comparable to the levels of care that were provided pre-pandemic, according to research published in the JAMA Health Forum. Despite exceptional challenges during the pandemic, SNFs provided post-acute rehabilitation with only a modest decline in intensity, said the researchers. This suggests that SNFs […]

Non-surgical treatment significantly reduces knee pain for adults, especially those 50 and older

Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for knee pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, and can significantly reduce pain, especially for adults who are 50 and older, according to new research to be presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix. This is the first time a study has examined patient demographics, […]

‘Smart’ walking stick could help visually impaired with groceries, finding a seat

Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder are tapping into advances in artificial intelligence to develop a new kind of walking stick for people who are blind or visually impaired. Think of it as assistive technology meets Silicon Valley. The researchers say that their “smart” walking stick could one day help blind people navigate tasks in a world designed for […]

Cost concerns keep older adults from seeking care

Worries about what emergency care might cost them have kept some older adults from seeking medical attention even when they felt they might need it, a new study shows. In all, 22% of older adults who may have needed care from the emergency department didn’t go because of concerns about what they might have to pay, according to the new […]