Planning Interventions & Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

A quasi-experimental study of 205 cardiac rehabilitation patients demonstrated that older adults have more flexible coping strategies than younger adults. The planning interventions increased the physical activity of all age groups; however, older adults showed a greater capacity to pursue their fitness and rehabilitation goals when faced with obstacles. These findings highlight the importance of not underestimating an older adult's ability to pursue physical wellness activities under difficult circumstances, such as cardiac rehabilitation. For more information, read the abstract at http://jah.sagepub.com.

Incorporating Spirituality into Hypertension Treatments

Cultural factors are known to play important roles within the clinical context. In this study, University of Pennsylvania researchers who examined the role that spirituality plays in the clinical experiences of African-American women with hypertension found that those who were able to incorporate their spirituality into their treatment regimen were more likely to comply with their pharmaceutical treatments. For more information, read the abstract at http://circ.ahajournals.org.

Are Older Adults with Hypertension Receiving Lifestyle Modification Advice?

A survey examining the extent and type of lifestyle modification advice given to people with high blood pressure found that adults over the age of 60 were significantly less likely to receive advice than younger adults. This study suggests that an important clinical intervention may be overlooked during clinical visits by older adults. For more information, read the abstract at http://www.lejacq.com.

Heading Outdoors & Psychosocial Decline

A study of frail community-dwelling older adults found that those who went outside more frequently had more positive physical and psychosocial outcomes. Older adults who went outside four or more times per week were more likely to still be living at home. Similarly, this group was less likely to experience declines in functional status, intellectual activity, and autonomous health promotion. For more information, read the abstract at http://www.sciencedirect.com.

The Economic Impact of Chronic Disease

The Milken Institute released a comprehensive report detailing the costs of treatment and productivity losses associated with the seven most common chronic diseases: cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary conditions, and mental disorders. This report also provides historical data, direct-cost estimates broken down by state and disease type, and it projects future economic consequences of current disease trends while comparing them to projected savings created by behavior changes known to mitigate risk for chronic diseases. For more information, read the report at http://www.milkeninstitute.org.

Visual Field a Major Factor in the Risk of Falls

Using data from 2,375 Salisbury Eye Evaluation participants, researchers were able to determine that diminished visual field capacity significantly increases older adults’ risk of falls. The authors suggest that older adults experiencing visual loss can benefit from mobility training so they can learn to navigate with their new visual constraints more safely. For more information, read the abstract at http://www.iovs.org.

The Nursing Home Administrator Experience

Shedding light on the turnover problem among nursing home administrators (NHAs), this study concluded that two incompatible sets of expectations have caught many NHAs in a bind, leading to disenchantment: the functional requirements of a nursing home and its business and regulatory environment. In this study, NHAs demonstrated a high level of job satisfaction and paradoxically, high levels of strain, most associated with juggling their roles as caregiver, CEO, and front-line manager. To receive the report, e-mail sking@matherlifeways.com.

Hospital Quality in America

Health Grades released its 10th annual hospital quality study report, which provides quality ratings of 5,000 hospitals nationwide and gives state- and hospital-specific mortality rates associated with common diseases and procedures. This research suggests that significant variation in the quality of care has been consistent with previous reports over the past eight years. For instance, the overall mortality rate at “five-star” hospitals is 71% lower. For more information, read the report at http://www.healthgrades.com.

Nursing Home Staff Turnover & Quality

Data from a large sample of nursing homes were used to measure the impact of turnover on nursing home quality. Nursing homes with medium staff turnover were more likely to have high quality ratings than nursing homes that had high turnover. There were no significant quality differences between low and medium turnover nursing homes. For more information, read the abstract at http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org.

Education Enhances Older Driver Performance

A randomized trial demonstrated that the driving performance of older adults can be enhanced through education and driver training, implying that when older adults have the opportunity to address skill and knowledge deficits, they can drive safely later into life. For more information, read the abstract at http://biomed.gerontologyjournals.org.

Safe Transportation & Older Adults

Numerous researchers and practitioners reviewed research evidence and provided guidance on the impact of quality transportation options for older adults. The following issues were covered by the review: the transportation needs, abilities, and desires of older adults; an assessment of the research literature on the subject; and important developments in areas such as screening, remediation, vehicle design, and transportation technologies. For more information, read abstract at http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org.

A Caregiver’s Impulse to Commit Elder Abuse

This study examined the validity and reliability of an assessment tool designed to assess a caregiver’s impulse to commit elder abuse. The tool proved to be highly reliable, and analysis demonstrated two important factors: emotional and physical abuse. This research was meant to justify the use of this assessment tool by professionals who work to support caregivers and the older adults for whom they care. For more information, read the abstract at http://rsw.sagepub.com.

Higher Education for Older Adults

The American Council on Education released its first research report from the study, Reinvesting in the Third Age: Older and Adults and Higher Education, which highlights the mixed state of affairs of higher education for older adults. Because this generation of older adults is more highly educated, there is a more diverse set of educational needs that need to be met. Large numbers of older adults remain underrepresented on college campuses, despite the growing desire to remain in the workforce by making career transitions requiring education. In short, this report outlines the educational challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for older adults. For more information, read the report at http://www.acenet.edu.

Self-Neglect Among Older Adults

Baylor University researchers examined a cross-section of medical charts in order to delineate the cognitive, functional, and social aspects of self-neglect among older adults. Their findings suggest that medical and social support can reduce the risk of self-neglect associated with the loss of executive function. For more information, read the abstract at http://web.ebscohost.com.