Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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To study the effect of caregiver-focused interventions to support medication safety in older adults with chronic disease. ⋯ Although some interventions improved caregiver medication knowledge and self-efficacy, effects on clinical outcomes and healthcare use were insufficiently studied. Two studies implementing collaborative care models with medication management components showed potential for improvement in quality of clinical care and reductions in healthcare visits and warrant further study with respect to medication safety. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2128-2135, 2018.
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Observational Study
Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Use of Non-Mechanically Ventilated Hospitalized Older Adults.
To determine why non-mechanically ventilated hospitalized older adults are transferred to long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals rather than remaining in the hospital. ⋯ Nearly half of the variation in LTAC use is independent of illness severity and is explained by which hospital and what region the individual was hospitalized in. Because of the greater fragmentation of care and Medicare spending with LTAC transfers (because LTAC hospitals generate a separate bundled payment from the hospital), greater attention is needed to define the optimal role of LTAC hospitals in caring for older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2112-2119, 2018.
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To examine the separate and joint association between physical activity and frailty and long-term all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in older adults. ⋯ Physical activity might partly compensate for the greater mortality risk associated with frailty in old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2097-2103, 2018.
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To determine whether providing physical therapy (PT) services in the emergency department (ED) improves outcomes for older adults who fall. ⋯ Expanding PT services in the ED may reduce future fall-related ED use of older adults. Additional analyses could assess characteristics of individuals receiving PT in the ED and follow-up PT use after discharge. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2205-2212, 2018.
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To determine whether antidepressant use is associated with dementia risk. ⋯ Most commonly prescribed nonanticholinergic depression medications used in late life do not appear to be associated with dementia risk. Paroxetine and other anticholinergic antidepressants may be exceptions in older individuals. Future studies are warranted to improve scientific understanding of potential associations in other settings and populations.