Classic COVID-19 symptoms not always apparent in elderly residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 01, 2020
Fever may be blunted or absent entirely, and respiratory symptoms may also be masked or exacerbated by co-occurring disease.
Change in resident’s mental status doesn’t always equal infection, new guidance cautions
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 10, 2020
The authors provide a framework for infection workups when residents present with a non-specific sign or symptom. The revised guidance also reviews the latest evidence on how best to evaluate non-localized...
Dementia diagnosis on inpatient Medicare claims linked to lower mortality and ICU stays
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 22, 2021
Undocumented dementia in nursing home residents who are transferred to acute care is linked to adverse outcomes, a new study finds. The good news is that acute care clinicians may now be recognizing dementia...
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.
Older adults’ care preferences honored, but inequities apparent, analysts find
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2023
More adults are saying that their healthcare preferences are considered by their providers, a 9.5% increase from 2014 to 2020. But the data also highlight inequities, investigators say.
One in five COVID-19 tests fail to detect virus
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2020
One in five COVID-19 PCR tests deliver false negative results — and sometimes the failure rate is far worse, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.
Don’t dismiss GI bleeding in seniors who take anticoagulants for A-fib, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 10, 2020
Lower GI bleeding in adults with Afib is linked to higher bowel cancer risks and should never be dismissed as a side effect of blood thinners, suggests a new study.
Longer post-acute stay may aid hip fracture recovery: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2020
Hip fracture surgery outcomes are tied to the patient’s length of stay in post-acute facilities, finds a new study of fee-for-service care.
Damage to inner ear helps explain increased falls risk in Alzheimer’s
Mar 11, 2022
Study participants who had vestibular impairment — or damage to the inner ear’s balance system — were 50% more likely to fall than their peers who had normal function, researchers found.
New behavior management guidelines support person-centered dementia care
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 18, 2020
Properly addressing the distress that underlies dementia-related behaviors is key to improving quality of life and preventing rapid decline in these patients, according to new guidance from leading dementia...