Resident poll reveals pandemic’s emotional toll: Frail elders need ‘something to live for’
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 02, 2020
A direct poll of nursing home residents in 36 states reveals a “drastic” reduction in social activities and a steep increase in reported loneliness. “Innovative distance socializing” may help address...
AHA highlights game-changing benefits of newer diabetes drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 30, 2020
Newer classes of diabetes drugs reliably protect patients from heart and kidney damage associated with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, an American Heart Association analysis finds. Increased...
COVID outbreaks tied to where nursing home staff live, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 21, 2020
Where staff members call home is a “large and significant predictor” of which facilities in a given county will experience a COVID-19 outbreak, a Harvard study finds.
Dementia mortality skyrockets since lockdowns; CMS loosens visitor restrictions
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 18, 2020
An excessive number of deaths due to dementia have occurred since shelter-in-place orders went into effect this spring, a new analysis finds. Meanwhile, CMS has proposed a framework for nursing homes...
Caution urged for use of azithromycin as COVID treatment
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 17, 2020
When taken together with commonly prescribed drugs that affect the heart’s electrical impulses, azithromycin is linked with a 40% increase in cardiac events. These include fainting, heart palpitations...
Most clinicians don’t follow hypertension diagnosis guidelines, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2020
In a surprise to researchers, few professionals surveyed across 10 medical centers reported using out-of-office blood pressure monitoring to screen for and diagnose hypertension.
Nurses ask feds to invoke Defense Production Act for N95 masks; survey finds ‘unacceptable’ reuse...
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 04, 2020
One in three nurses remain short on supplies, an ANA survey has found. “Re-use and decontamination of single-use PPE as the ‘new normal’ is unacceptable, given the lack of standards and evidence...
Diabetes drugs reduce organ failure, mortality risk in chronic kidney disease
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 03, 2020
New studies show evidence that common glucose-lowering drugs significantly lower the rate of kidney decline and death.
Medical cannabis a mixed bag for older adults, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 03, 2020
Positive and negative outcomes can occur simultaneously or separately in older adults. Clinicians should remember to directly assess potential risks and harms, the researchers caution.
Socially isolated elderly more prone to hospital, emergency department admission
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 28, 2020
A lack of social support may lead to poor health and reliance on emergency departments as a source of referrals to non-emergent care, researchers say.