Effects of Support Groups for Individuals with Early-Stage Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Integrative Review
Support groups have demonstrated promising outcomes for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia (ESD) in previous literature reviews. However, evidence has not been updated since 2007. The current review aimed to update current evidence on the use and effects of support groups for individuals with MCI and ESD and their care partners. A literature search was conducted in seven databases and 18 eligible research articles were retrieved. Support groups showed positive impacts on participant acceptance of cognitive impairment; performance and satisfaction of meaningful activity; resilience; se...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 28, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Falls and Fall Prevention in Older Adults With Early-Stage Dementia: An Integrative Review
Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia have an increased risk of falling, with risks to their health and quality of life. The purpose of the current integrative review was to evaluate evidence on fall risk and fall prevention in this population. Studies were included if they examined falls or fall risk factors in older adults with MCI or early-stage dementia, or reported interventions in this population; 40 studies met criteria. Evidence supports the increased risk of falls in individuals even in the early stages of dementia or MCI, and changes in gait, balance, and fear of falling that ...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 28, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
State Regulation of Medication Administration by Unlicensed Assistive Personnel in Residential Care and Adult Day Services Settings
Residential care settings and adult day services are two community-based care options used by older adults with chronic health conditions. Most states have regulatory provisions that allow unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to administer medications. The current national policy study examined state regulations to identify which states permit UAP to administer medications, as well as staffing and training requirements. Key findings include states lack clear and adequate provisions for nurse oversight of UAP who administer medications, although adult day service regulations provide a greater level of nurse oversight than r...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
The Relationship Between Reminiscence Functions, Optimism, Depressive Symptoms, Physical Activity, and Pain in Older Adults
The study purpose was to examine the association between reminiscence functions, optimism, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and pain in older adults with chronic lower extremity osteoarthritis pain. One hundred ninety-five community-dwelling adults were interviewed using the Modified Reminiscence Functions Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, Life Orientation Test-Revised, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale, and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in random counterbalanced order. Structural equation modeling supported chronic pain as positively associated with depressive symptoms and comorbidities a...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Screening for Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults: Reliability and Feasibility of the Maastricht Frailty Screening Tool for Hospitalized Patients (MFST-HP)
As nurses in hospitals are confronted with increasing numbers of older patients, their geriatric nursing skills and knowledge must be integrated into daily clinical practice. Early risk identification via screening tools may help improve geriatric care. To reduce the assessment burden of nurses, the Maastricht Frailty Screening Tool for Hospitalized Patients (MFST-HP) was developed. The aim of the current study was to explore aspects of reliability, validity, and feasibility of the MFST-HP. Intrarater reliability was assessed by measuring patients two times within 24 hours. Interrater reliability was assessed by having pat...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Handling Those Pesky Statistical Outliers
(Source: Research in gerontological nursing)
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Effect of Stimulative and Sedative Music Videos on Depressive Symptoms and Physiological Relaxation in Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Music has been found to improve depressive symptoms and relaxation. However, few studies related to this issue have been conducted using music videos (MVs). The aim was to compare the effects of stimulative and sedative MVs on depressive symptoms and physiological relaxation (i.e., electromyography, heart rate variability, and skin conductance) in older adults with depressive symptoms. Using a 2-week crossover design, interventions alternated between watching a stimulative and sedative MV and vice versa. Each intervention lasted for 30 minutes on 1 day during the first week, and was then alternated to another intervention ...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Role of Advance Care Planning in Proxy Decision Making Among Individuals With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers
Health care proxies make important end-of-life decisions for individuals with dementia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the role of advance care planning in proxy decision making for 141 individuals with cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, or other types of dementia. Proxies who did not know the preferences of individuals with dementia for life support treatments reported greater understanding of their values. Proxies of individuals with dementia who did not want life support treatments anticipated receiving less support and were more uncertain in decision making. The greater knowledge proxies had ...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Effect of Pictograph-Based Discharge Instructions on Older Adults' Comprehension and Recall: A Pilot Study
Many older adults return home with limited comprehension of hospital discharge instructions because current text-based instructions are difficult to understand. To address this issue, the author developed discharge instructions using pictographs (i.e., simple line drawings showing step-by-step discharge actions) for older adults under care of hip replacement surgery. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of pictograph-based discharge instructions on comprehension and recall of older adults with low literacy skills. A posttest-only comparison group design was used to compare pictograph-based (n = 21) to...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Effects of Physical Environment on Health and Behaviors of Residents With Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Longitudinal Study
The challenges in investigating the effects of the physical environment on residents with dementia include having a sample of comparable study groups and a lack of long-term follow-up evaluation. The current study attempted to address these two challenges by carefully matching residents and analyzing long-term measurement data. The aim of the study was to examine whether residents with dementia (N = 12) living in a traditional large-scale setting or a small-scale, home-like setting exhibit any difference in health and behaviors over time. Physical environmental assessment of the two care facilities was conducted using the ...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Achieving a National Sample of Nursing Homes: Balancing Probability Techniques and Practicalities
Sampling design is critical to the quality of quantitative research, yet it does not always receive appropriate attention in nursing research. The current article details how balancing probability techniques with practical considerations produced a representative sample of Australian nursing homes (NHs). Budgetary, logistical, and statistical constraints were managed by excluding some NHs (e.g., those too difficult to access) from the sampling frame; a stratified, random sampling methodology yielded a final sample of 53 NHs from a population of 2,774. In testing the adequacy of representation of the study population, chi-s...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
The Silence of Our Science: Nursing Research on LGBT Older Adult Health
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults have been largely invisible within health and aging services research, despite being disproportionately burdened by poor health and aging outcomes. The current study examines the prevalence of LGBT aging and older adult health-related studies in the 2010–2014 nursing literature, and how this topic is being addressed. Systematic CINAHL and PubMed searches were conducted and compared to (a) quantify the prevalence of LGBT older adult–related scholarship in nursing research; (b) document the appearance of relevant publications in top nursing journals; (c)...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Seeing Silver in the Spectrum: LGBT Older Adult Health, Aging, and Gerontological Nursing Research
(Source: Research in gerontological nursing)
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
State Regulation of Medication Administration by Unlicensed Assistive Personnel in Residential Care and Adult Day Services Settings
Residential care settings and adult day services are two community-based care options used by older adults with chronic health conditions. Most states have regulatory provisions that allow unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to administer medications. The current national policy study examined state regulations to identify which states permit UAP to administer medications, as well as staffing and training requirements. Key findings include states lack clear and adequate provisions for nurse oversight of UAP who administer medications, although adult day service regulations provide a greater level of nurse oversight than r...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Falls Self-Efficacy in German Nursing Home Residents: Assessment of Validity and Determination of a Cutoff Point
Approximately one in every two German nursing home residents falls at least once in a 1-year period and just as many report a fear of falling. It has been hypothesized that falls self-efficacy mediates the relationship between fear of falling and functional ability. The aim of the current study was to develop the German Nursing Home Falls Self-Efficacy Scale, examine its validity, and estimate a cutoff point to differentiate nursing home residents with low or high falls self-efficacy. Nursing home residents were assessed at baseline (n = 178, mean age = 83.7 years) and 6-month follow up (n = 115, mean age = 83.9 years). Fa...
Source: Research in gerontological nursing - September 19, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
