Vaccinated seniors report more pandemic fears, isolation than unvaccinated peers, poll finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2021
Vaccinated Americans aged 50 years and older are more worried about infection, more likely to practice social distancing, and more likely to describe their mental health as worse, say researchers at the...
Elders get a cognitive boost after positive social interactions, mobile study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2021
In a smartphone-enabled study, adults aged 70 years and older had better cognitive performance the same day that they reported having more frequent, pleasant social interactions than usual — and on the...
$2M virtual reality trial to gauge impact on senior living residents with dementia
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
The Phase II trial will evaluate how virtual family engagement affects quality of life for 400 older adults in 12 U.S. long-term care communities.
APIE: The importance of the assessment process
By
Charles de Vilmorin
Jennifer Stelter
Jul 20, 2021
Job descriptions for activity directors in senior living usually read as follows: “Provide activities that meet the residents’ preferences and needs.” This generalist approach, sometimes guided by...
Health effects of social isolation strikingly different in older men and women: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 29, 2020
Women with fewer social ties have higher odds of hypertension, researchers say. In contrast, men with a large social network are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
Virtual music therapy program engages senior living residents cognitively, socially during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 05, 2020
A collaborative music therapy program has safely engaged small groups of residents and hit its therapeutic marks during the pandemic, says a Cleveland senior living operator.
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...
Seniors report more virtual contact, worse mental health during pandemic lockdowns
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 31, 2020
Mental health took a hit, but seniors seemed to be adapting to shelter-in-place conditions this spring, a new study finds. More than half spent more time socializing remotely, and most used internet technology...
Residents who do these two things most likely to live 100 years
By
John O'Connor
Jun 23, 2020
Older adults who are socially engaged and don’t smoke dramatically improve their chances of living to age 100, researchers in New Zealand have found.
Mental health concerns prompting facilities to request renewed socializing
By
Alicia Lasek
May 13, 2020
Some Florida eldercare facility administrators are asking for eased restrictions that would allow limited socializing within their communities.