Age and ageing
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of an alternating pressure air mattress for the prevention of pressure ulcers.
studies of the effectiveness of alternating pressure air mattresses (APAMs) for the prevention of pressure ulcers are scarce and in conflict. ⋯ fewer patients developed heel pressure ulcers on an APAM. Patients identified as being in need of prevention based on the presence of NBE had a tendency to develop fewer pressure ulcers on an APAM. Patients identified as being in need of prevention, based on the Braden Scale, appeared to develop more sacral pressure ulcers on an APAM.
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we developed the Caregivers for Alzheimer's disease Problems Scale (CAPS) comprising common risk factors for anxiety and depression for family carers of people with dementia. ⋯ awareness of these problems can help clinicians identify those carers most likely to be anxious or depressed and indicate appropriate intervention and support. We recommend that this instrument be used as part of routine assessments of people with dementia and their families.
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most people in contemporary western society die of the chronic diseases of old age. Whilst palliative care is appropriate for elderly patients with chronic, non-malignant disease, few of these patients access such care compared with cancer patients. Objective referral criteria based on accurate estimation of survival may facilitate more timely referral of non-cancer patients most appropriate for specialist palliative care. ⋯ prognostic models that attempt to estimate survival of < or = 6 months in non-cancer patients have generally poor discrimination, reflecting the unpredictable nature of most non-malignant disease. However, a number of generic and disease-specific predictor variables were identified that may help clinicians identify older, non-cancer patients with poor prognoses and palliative care needs. Simple, well-validated prognostic models that provide clinicians with objective measures of palliative status in non-cancer patients are needed. Additionally, research that evaluates the effect of general and specialist palliative care on psychosocial outcomes in non-cancer patients and their carers is needed.