The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jan 2005
Comparative StudyPatients aged 90 years or older in the intensive care unit.
Age is an important prognostic factor in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), but it is not as important as illness severity. However, age seems to remain an important independent triage criterion for ICU admission, and 90 years of age seems to represent a psychological barrier for many ICU physicians. The aim of this preliminary study is to compare the management and outcome of patients aged 90 years or older admitted to a respiratory ICU with those of patients aged 70 years or younger. ⋯ Our results reinforce the idea that age alone is not a relevant criterion for ICU admission.
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Napping patterns and relationships among naps, circadian rhythms, and nocturnal sleep were evaluated in postmenopausal women. Naps and nocturnal sleep were compared between depressed women and healthy volunteers. ⋯ Evening napping, a characteristic of these postmenopausal women, may be related to an advance of circadian rhythms in this age group. Relationships between evening napping and earlier wake-up time may be a common manifestation of advanced circadian rhythms or may be a homeostatic effect.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Apr 2004
Measuring nursing home resident satisfaction with food and food service: initial testing of the FoodEx-LTC.
Malnutrition impacts the quality of life and general health of many older persons living in our nation's 20,000 nursing homes (1). Despite the urgency of this issue, no instrument that measures resident satisfaction with food and food service was found in an extensive literature search. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and initial testing of a resident satisfaction with food and food service questionnaire (FoodEx-LTC) in the context of the Quality Nutrition Outcomes-Long-Term Care Model. ⋯ FoodEx-LTC appears to be a valid and reliable measure of resident food and food service satisfaction in nursing homes. This line of inquiry is of great importance because perceived quality of food and food service are strongly related to quality of life for residents in nursing homes, and adequate food intake is integral to maintaining weight and preventing protein-calorie malnutrition among elderly residents.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Apr 2004
Delirium symptoms and low dietary intake in older inpatients are independent predictors of institutionalization: a 1-year prospective population-based study.
To assess the effects of delirium on the institutionalization rate, taking into account geriatric syndromes and nutritional status. ⋯ Symptoms of delirium and severe nutritional impairment led patients to geriatric institutions. Therefore, these institutions need to implement policies that address both of these issues.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Apr 2004
Characteristics associated with delirium persistence among newly admitted post-acute facility patients.
Delirium is costly, common, and may persist for weeks or months. Therefore, the adverse impact of delirium on loss of independence may occur in the post-acute setting rather than in the hospital. The purpose of this study is to describe the rate of delirium persistence and identify baseline patient characteristics that are associated with delirium persistence at 1 month among newly admitted post-acute facility patients who were admitted with delirium. ⋯ Delirium is persistent in the post-acute setting. If verified in further research, the risk factors found in this study could be used to identify patients who are likely to have delirium after 1 month, and may prove useful in developing and targeting interventions of care.