Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
-
To characterize the lipolytic response in the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue in older women to endurance exercise. ⋯ Older women are capable of prompt and substantial increase in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue glycerol and NEFA mobilization rates in response to moderate acute endurance exercise. The lipolytic response matches skeletal muscle NEFA uptake, and decreased ability to mobilize fat during exercise is therefore not likely to cause increased fat mass with advancing age.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effect of light treatment on sleep and circadian rhythms in demented nursing home patients.
To determine whether fragmented sleep in nursing home patients would improve with increased exposure to bright light. ⋯ Increasing exposure to morning bright light delayed the acrophase of the activity rhythm and made the circadian rhythm more robust. These changes have the potential to be clinically beneficial because it may be easier to provide nursing care to patients whose circadian activity patterns are more socially acceptable.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Completion of advance directives by older health maintenance organization members: the role of attitudes and beliefs regarding life-sustaining treatment.
This study examined whether older health maintenance organization (HMO) members' attitudes and beliefs regarding life-sustaining treatment were associated with their completion of advance directives (ADs). ⋯ Completers were more likely to believe that their physicians understood their wishes and less likely to think that ADs are too binding. More noncompleters wanted their family to decide, even though an AD would increase their families' ability to do so. AD completion rates might increase if they were characterized as a way to preserve flexibility in a complex medical system, help families reach amicable decisions on behalf of their loved ones, and increase patients' confidence that their physician understands their wishes for life-sustaining treatment.
-
Multicenter Study
Community-acquired pneumonia and do not resuscitate orders.
From a cohort of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who required admission to hospital, to describe the subset of patients having a do not resuscitate (DNR) order and to compare them with those who did not have such an order. ⋯ Most in-hospital pneumonia deaths occur in patients who have a DNR order. DNR orders written within 24 hours of admission primarily reflect comorbid status, whereas DNR orders written later during hospitalization reflect the futility of care plus comorbidity.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Patient characteristics at hospital discharge and a comparison of home care referral decisions.
Describe the characteristics of hospitalized older adults who were not referred for home care, compare the referral decisions of hospital clinicians with those of nurses with expertise in discharge planning and transitional care, and compare the characteristics of hospitalized older adults who did not receive a home care referral with patients who did receive a home care referral. ⋯ Study findings have demonstrated that the majority of older adults in this sample were discharged without postdischarge referrals despite the presence of several characteristics associated with the need for home care and risk of poor discharge outcomes. Findings suggest the need for improved methods to identify and synthesize patient characteristics associated with the need for postdischarge referral and to support clinical decision-making. Insurance or homebound status should also be explored as barriers to patients receiving the postdischarge care that they need.