Proportion Of Older Adults Research Articles

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in Mid-West, Ireland: a retrospective analysis

Abstract Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, over 78,000 migrants have come to Ireland seeking protection. It is necessary to capture their demographics, to understand their immediate health concerns and to identify their additional service requirements to ensure that this cohort can continue to shelter healthily in Ireland. A retrospective cohort analysis was carried out on Health Needs Assessments (HNAs) undertaken for BOTPs in congregated settings. Date of entry to Ireland was captured on 1820 HNA forms returned to the Department of Public Health Mid-West Area E. Patterns in the demographics and the health service utilisation of arrivals, over the first year of conflict, were analysed. Participants were grouped by arrival date, Cohort 1 (24/02/22-20/09/22) (n = 1130) and Cohort 2 (21/09/22-03/03/23) (n = 690). The proportion of male adult arrivals increased from 32% in Cohort 1 to 36% in Cohort 2 and the proportion of older adults (>65 yrs) increased by 40% in Cohort 2. The respondents that reported being pregnant increased from 0.5% of females (aged >14) in Cohort 1 (n = 3) to 2.9% in Cohort 2 (n = 9). Cohort 2 reported lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, with 30% self-reporting as doubly vaccinated, compared with 44% of Cohort 1 (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in child immunisation rates between Cohort 1 + 2. Chronic disease status in both cohorts were consistent, with some exceptions. Statistically significant differences were noted (p < 0.01) across different age groups for some chronic diseases, including heart disease and Diabetes Type 2. Differences in age and sex distributions between Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 will impact on the utilisation of health services. Higher rates of pregnancy may impact on primary care and maternity services. Low rates of child immunisation have resulted in the roll-out of a targeted catch-up vaccination programme for those aged 0-23 years. Predicting HNA trends will help to re-orient health services to meet the needs of these groups. Key messages • Differences in age and sex distributions between early (Cohort 1) and late (Cohort 2) arrivals will impact the utilisation of health services and must be accounted for when planning local services. • Predicting trends of chronic disease and health needs has enabled local health service teams to carry out targeted interventions to ameliorate health and health service access for these groups.

Medical Cannabis Is Not Associated with a Decrease in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults.

The proportion of older adults using medical cannabis is rising. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of herbal medical cannabis on the functional status of older adults. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients aged 65 years or older that initiated cannabis treatment for different indications, mostly chronic non-cancer pain, during 2018-2020 in a specialized geriatric clinic. The outcomes assessed were activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), pain intensity, geriatric depression scale, chronic medication use, and adverse events at six months. A cohort of 119 patients began cannabis treatment: the mean age was 79.3 ± 8.5 and 74 (62.2%) were female. Of the cohort, 43 (36.1%) experienced adverse effects due to cannabis use and 2 (1.7%) required medical attention. The mean ADL scores before and after treatment were 4.4 ± 1.8 and 4.5 ± 1.8, respectively (p = 0.27), and the mean IADL scores before and after treatment were 4.1 ± 2.6 and 4.7 ± 3, respectively (p = 0.02). We concluded that medical cannabis in older adults has a number of serious adverse events, but was not associated with a decrease in functional status, as illustrated by ADL and IADL scores after six months of continuous treatment.

The Use of a Decision Support System (MyFood) to Assess Dietary Intake Among Free-Living Older Adults in Norway: Evaluation Study.

The proportion of older adults in the world is constantly increasing, and malnutrition is a common challenge among the older adults aged ≥65 years. This poses a need for better tools to prevent, assess, and treat malnutrition among older adults. MyFood is a decision support system developed with the intention to prevent and treat malnutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the MyFood app to estimate the intake of energy, protein, fluids, and food and beverage items among free-living older adults aged ≥65 years, primarily at an individual level and secondarily at a group level. In addition, the aim was to measure the experiences of free-living older adults using the app. Participants were instructed to record their dietary intake in the MyFood app for 4 consecutive days. In addition, each participant completed two 24-hour recalls, which were used as a reference method to evaluate the dietary assessment function in the MyFood app. Differences in the estimations of energy, protein, fluid, and food groups were analyzed at both the individual and group levels, by comparing the recorded intake in MyFood with the 2 corresponding recalls and by comparing the mean of all 4 recording days with the mean of the 2 recalls, respectively. A short, study-specific questionnaire was used to measure the participants' experiences with the app. This study included 35 free-living older adults residing in Norway. Approximately half of the participants had ≥80% agreement between MyFood and the 24-hour recalls for energy intake on both days. For protein and fluids, approximately 60% of the participants had ≥80% agreement on the first day of comparison. Dinner was the meal with the lowest agreement between the methods, at both the individual and group levels. MyFood tended to underestimate the intake of energy, protein, fluid, and food items at both the individual and group levels. The food groups that achieved the greatest agreement between the 2 methods were eggs, yogurt, self-composed dinner, and hot beverages. All participants found the app easy to use, and 74% (26/35) of the participants reported that the app was easy to navigate. The results showed that the MyFood app tended to underestimate the participants' dietary intake compared with the 24-hour recalls at both the individual and group levels. The app's ability to estimate intake within food groups was greater for eggs, yogurt, and self-composed dinner than for spreads, mixed meals, vegetables, and snacks. The app was well accepted among the study participants and may be a useful tool among free-living older adults, given that the users are provided follow-up and support in how to record their dietary intake.

Longitudinal study of epigenetic aging and its relationship with brain aging and cognitive skills in young adulthood.

The proportion of older adults within society is sharply increasing and a better understanding of how we age starts to be critical. However, given the paucity of longitudinal studies with both neuroimaging and epigenetic data, it remains largely unknown whether the speed of the epigenetic clock changes over the life course and whether any such changes are proportional to changes in brain aging and cognitive skills. To fill these knowledge gaps, we conducted a longitudinal study of a prenatal birth cohort, studied epigenetic aging across adolescence and young adulthood, and evaluated its relationship with brain aging and cognitive outcomes. DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina EPIC Platform in adolescence, early and late 20 s, DNA methylation age was estimated using Horvath's epigenetic clock, and epigenetic age gap (EpiAGE) was calculated as DNA methylation age residualized for batch, chronological age and the proportion of epithelial cells. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was acquired in both the early 20 s and late 20 s using the same 3T Prisma MRI scanner and brain age was calculated using the Neuroanatomical Age Prediction using R (NAPR) platform. Cognitive skills were assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) in the late 20 s. The EpiAGE in adolescence, the early 20 s, and the late 20 s were positively correlated (r = 0.34-0.47), suggesting that EpiAGE is a relatively stable characteristic of an individual. Further, a faster pace of aging between the measurements was positively correlated with EpiAGE at the end of the period (r = 0.48-0.77) but negatively correlated with EpiAGE at the earlier time point (r = -0.42 to -0.55), suggesting a compensatory mechanism where late matures might be catching up with the early matures. Finally, higher positive EpiAGE showed small (Adj R2 = 0.03) but significant relationships with a higher positive brain age gap in all participants and lower full-scale IQ in young adult women in the late 20 s. We conclude that the EpiAGE is a relatively stable characteristic of an individual across adolescence and early adulthood, but that it shows only a small relationship with accelerated brain aging and a women-specific relationship with worse performance IQ.

Multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation for older adults with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and process outcomes

BackgroundOlder adults are at increased risk for disease severity and poorer prognosis following COVID-19 infection. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the acute or post-acute hospital setting for older adults with COVID-19.MethodsThe Cochrane library, EMBASE, Cinahl and Medline (via EBSCO), PubMed, and Web of Science were systematically searched in June 2022 and a repeat search was completed in March 2023. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted independently by two reviewers. Studies reporting outcomes for older adults following multidisciplinary rehabilitation (provided by two or more Health and Social Care Professionals) were included. Both observational and experimental study designs were included. The primary outcome was functional ability. Secondary outcomes included discharge disposition, acute hospital and rehabilitation unit length of stay, mortality, primary and secondary healthcare utilisation, and long-term effects of COVID-19.ResultsTwelve studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 570 older adults. Where reported, older adults stayed in the acute hospital for a mean of 18 days (95%CI, 13.35- 23.13 days) and in rehabilitation units for 19 days (95%CI, 15.88–21.79 days). There was a significant improvement in functional ability among older adults with COVID-19 who received multidisciplinary rehabilitation (REM, SMD = 1.46, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.98). The proportion of older adults who were discharged directly home following rehabilitation ranged from 62 to 97%. Two studies reported a 2% inpatient mortality rate of older persons during rehabilitative care. No study followed up patients after the point of discharge and no study reported on long term effects of COVID-19.ConclusionsMultidisciplinary rehabilitation may result in improved functional outcomes on discharge from rehabilitation units/centres for older adults with COVID-19. Findings also highlight the need for further research into the long-term effect of rehabilitation for older adults following COVID-19. Future research should comprehensively describe multidisciplinary rehabilitation in terms of disciplines involved and the intervention provided.

1012-P: Trends in Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans among Older Adults with Diabetes, 2015–2020

Existing literature has found an increase in the proportion of older adults that enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans relative to those enrolling in traditional Medicare (TMed). Similarly, previous studies have shown that individuals with diabetes are more likely to enroll in MA plans than those without diabetes. Our objective was to determine whether trends for enrollment in MA plans among adults with diabetes followed a similar trend to those without diabetes. We used the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) to calculate the proportion of the Medicare-eligible population enrolling in MA vs. TMed each year from 2015 - 2020. We stratified these rates by diabetes diagnosis (any diabetes vs. no diabetes), and further by diabetes type (Type 1 vs. Type 2). Like previously published literature, we found that those with diagnosed diabetes has higher rates of MA enrollment than those without diabetes. MA enrollment trends followed a similar pattern among those with diabetes compared to those without. Among those without diabetes, MA enrollment rates increased from 34.2% in 2015 to 40.5% in 2020. Among those with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, MA enrollment rates increased from 38.8% to 46.9% and from 38.4% to 45.8%, respectively. In relative terms, MA enrollment increased by 20.9% among those with Type 1 Diabetes, 13.9% among those with Type 2 Diabetes, 15.9% with other diabetes, and 18.3% without diabetes. Disclosure J.M.Weinstein: Research Support; Dexcom, Inc. R.Muthukkumar: None. L.A.Young: Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Sanofi, Boehringer-Ingelheim. A.R.Kahkoska: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (KL2TR002490, UL1TR002489)

Exploring preferences of older adults for dental services: A pilot multi-national discrete choice experiment.

To pilot an exploration of older adults' future preferences using discrete choice experiments to understand who should provide dental examinations and treatment, where these services should be provided, and participants' willingness to pay and willingness to travel. The proportion of older adults in the general population is increasing and is recognised as a pressing public health challenge. Older people aged 65 years and over were recruited into this study from the UK, Switzerland and Greece. Drawing on earlier stakeholder engagement, a set of choice experiments are developed to explore the future preferences of older people for dental examinations and dental treatment, as they anticipated losing their independence. These were presented to the participants using a range of platforms, because of the COVID pandemic. Data were analysed in STATA using a random-effects logit model. Two hundred and forty-six participants (median age 70 years) completed the pilot study. There was a strong preference across all countries for a dentist to undertake a dental examination (Greece: β = 0.944, Switzerland: β = 0.260, UK β = 0.791), rather than a medical doctor (Greece: β = -0.556, Switzerland: β = -0.4690, UK: β = -0.468). Participants in Switzerland and the UK preferred these examinations to be undertaken in a dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.220, UK: β = 0.580) while participants in Greece preferred the dental examination to be undertaken in their homes (β = 1.172). Greek participants preferred dental treatment to be undertaken by a specialist (β = 0.365) in their home (β = 0.862), while participants from the UK and Switzerland preferred to avoid any dental treatment at home (Switzerland: β = -0.387; UK: β = -0.444). Willingness to pay analyses highlighted that participants in Switzerland and the UK were willing to pay more to ensure the continuity of future service provision at a family dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.454, UK: β = 0.695). Discrete choice experiments are valuable for exploring older people's preferences for dental service provision in different countries. Future larger studies should be conducted to further explore the potential of this approach, given the pressing need to design services that are fit for purpose for older people. Continuity of dental service provision is considered as important by most older people, as they anticipate losing their dependence.

Correlations between regional characteristics of counties and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty sources of COVID-19 in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea.

This study aimed to examine the correlations between the regional characteristics of counties in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty sources of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The region of the infectious contact was analysed for each COVID-19 case reported in Gangwon Province between February 22, 2020 and February 7, 2022. The population, population density, area, the proportion of urban residents, the proportion of older adults (>65 years), financial independence, and the number of adjacent counties were assessed for each of the 18 counties in Gangwon Province. Correlation coefficients between regional characteristics and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections were calculated. In total, 19,645 cases were included in this study. The population, population density, proportion of older adults, and proportion of urban residents were significantly correlated with the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections. A stratified analysis with an age cut-point of 65 years showed that the proportion of older adults had a significant negative correlation with the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections. In other words, the proportions of extracounty infections were higher in countries with higher proportions of older adults. Regions with ageing populations should carefully observe trends in infectious disease outbreaks in other regions to prevent possible transmission.

Perceptions about Aging and Ageism from 14 Cross-sectional Cohorts of Undergraduate Dental Students.

Although positive and negative views of aging and older adults exist, how undergraduate dental students imagine their lives to be as they grow older remains to be fully explored. This study aimed at determining the self-perceived views of being 65, 75, or 85 y of age, as expressed by undergraduate dental students at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. A 14-y cross-sectional study design was utilized involving third-year undergraduate dental students at UBC's Faculty of Dentistry. Brief individual essays (150 words) encompassing students' self-perceived views were gathered as part of a dental geriatric course from 2009 to 2022; however, essays were not mandatory. Saldaña's inductive coding and thematic analysis of textual data were used. Themes and categories of information were identified and matched with their excerpts while aiming for data saturation. Over the 14-y period, 657 students were enrolled in UBC's undergraduate dental geriatric course, and 561 essays were collected. Inductive coding and thematic analysis identified 5 main themes and 11 categories. While themes included "oral health, general health, and the mind" and "me, myself, and familial relationships," the categories focused on "(un)able bodies" and "general health." Positive views about the aging process were shared, while less optimistic ideas-and even ageism-were apparent when students saw themselves as not employable or living in isolation. Positive and negative views were not bound by the students' academic year but might have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the number of older adults already surpasses the number of children in many countries, ageism appears to have permeated through students' views of 3 older ages. More positive yet realistic views of growing older were also shared. Follow-up studies are needed to explore the impact of dental education on decreasing ageism. As the proportion of older adults in the global population steadily grows, it is important to educate heath care providers about normal and pathologic aging to avoid ageism-stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination against older adults. This cross-sectional study involved 14 cohorts of undergraduate dental students exploring their self-perceived views of growing older. Although positive and negative views of aging were shared, dental education must focus on decreasing ageism.

Frailty Identification in Prehospital Care: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

The proportion of older adults is increasing worldwide. Frailty assessment in prehospital care was suggested to improve triage decisions and paramedics' judgment. This study aimed to assess the scope and nature of available evidence around frailty identification in prehospital care. A systematic search of the literature was performed using MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CINHAL, and Web of Science to identify relevant articles published from January 2022 downwards. A list of indexed terms and their associated alternatives were pre-determined. Of the 71 identified and reviewed articles after removing duplicates, six articles were included in the review. Due to the heterogeneity of the included articles, the findings were described narratively. The findings of this review showed that the available evidence is limited and heterogenic. Two themes emerged from the findings of the included articles: 1) Paramedics' Perceptions about Frailty Assessment in Prehospital Care and 2) Frailty Scores for Application in Prehospital Care. Paramedics recognised frailty assessment in pre-hospital care to be feasible and important. They highlighted the need for a simple and clear frailty score that could be used and mentioned to other healthcare professionals when handing over patients. Six frailty scores were reported to be used in prehospital care. The evidence around each frailty score is very limited. Overall, frailty assessment in prehospital care was shown to be important and feasible. Different frailty scores have been assessed for use in prehospital care. Further research investigating frailty identification in prehospital care is needed.

Enhancing Care of Older Adults Through Standardizing Palliative Care Education.

Nursing skill in caring for persons with serious chronic illness is increasingly in demand as the proportion of older adults in the United States increases. There is robust evidence that palliative care education among health care providers influences the reduction of death anxiety and avoidance behavior, while positively impacting self-efficacy and comfort, when caring for persons with serious illness or those nearing death. The international recognition of access to palliative care as a universal human right drives the need for education to adequately prepare nurses who have not been properly prepared for this work. The development of national competencies in palliative care education for nurses is an important step in synthesizing and disseminating available evidence in support of palliative care nursing education. These recently published competencies can lead to policy innovations at local, state, and national levels. Identifying competencies that lead to more clearly defined curricula will ultimately improve standardizing education and improve nursing practice in caring for older adults with serious chronic illness and their families. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(6), 6-12.].

A cross-talk between sestrins, chronic inflammation and cellular senescence governs the development of age-associated sarcopenia and obesity.

The rapid increase in both the lifespan and proportion of older adults is accompanied by the unprecedented rise in age-associated chronic diseases, including sarcopenia and obesity. Aging is also manifested by increased susceptibility to multiple endogenous and exogenous stresses enabling such chronic conditions to develop. Among the main physiological regulators of cellular adaption to various stress stimuli, such as DNA damage, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, are sestrins (Sesns), a family of three evolutionarily conserved proteins, Sesn1, 2, and 3. Age-associated sarcopenia and obesity are characterized by two key processes: (i) accumulation of senescent cells in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and (ii) creation of a systemic, chronic, low-grade inflammation (SCLGI). Presumably, failed SCLGI resolution governs the development of these chronic conditions. Noteworthy, Sesns activate senolytics, which are agents that selectively eliminate senescent cells, as well as specialized pro-resolving mediators, which are factors that physiologically provide inflammation resolution. Sesns reveal clear beneficial effects in pre-clinical models of sarcopenia and obesity. Based on these observations, we propose a novel treatment strategy for age-associated sarcopenia and obesity, complementary to the conventional therapeutic modalities: Sesn activation, SCLGI resolution, and senescent cell elimination.

Is It Time to Integrate Frailty Assessment in Onconephrology?

Onconephrology has emerged as a novel sub-specialty of nephrology dedicated to the intersection between the kidney and cancer. This intersection is broad and includes a number of important areas of focus, including concurrent chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cancer, acute kidney complications of cancer, and cancer-treatment-induced nephrotoxicity. The importance of onconephrology is even more evident when considering the global growth in the population of older adults, many of whom are living with some degree of frailty. Furthermore, a considerable proportion of older adults have CKD (some of whom eventually progress to kidney failure) and are at high risk of developing solid tumour and hematologic malignancies. Specific to kidney disease, the association between frailty status and kidney disease has been explored in depth, and tools to capture frailty can be used to guide the management and prognostication of older adults living with kidney failure. Whilst there is emerging data regarding the assessment and impact of frailty in onconephrology, there remains a relative paucity of knowledge within this topic. In this article, we evaluate the definition and operationalization of frailty and discuss the significance of frailty within onconephrology. We review evidence on current approaches to assessing frailty in onconephrology and discuss potential developments and future directions regarding the utilization of frailty in this patient population. A greater awareness of the intersections and interactions between frailty and onconephrology and further efforts to integrate frailty assessment in onconephrology to optimize the delivery of realistic and goal-directed management strategies for patients is needed.

Health Literacy among Older Adults in Portugal and Associated Sociodemographic, Health and Healthcare-Related Factors.

Although the health literacy level of the general population was described recently, little is known about its specific levels among older adults in Portugal. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the levels of health literacy demonstrated by older adults in Portugal and explore associated factors. Using a randomly generated list of telephone numbers, adults aged 65 years or more living in mainland Portugal were contacted in September and October 2022. Sociodemographic, health and healthcare-related variables were collected, and the 12-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey Project 2019-2021 was used to measure health literacy. Then, binary logistic regression models were used to investigate factors associated with limited general health literacy. In total, 613 participants were surveyed. The mean level of general health literacy was (59.15 ± 13.05; n = 563), whereas health promotion (65.82 ± 13.19; n = 568) and appraising health information (65.16 ± 13.26; n = 517) were the highest scores in the health literacy domain and the dimension of health information processing, respectively. Overall, 80.6% of respondents revealed limited general health literacy, which was positively associated with living in a difficult household financial situation (4.17; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.64-10.57), perceiving one's own health status as poorer (7.12; 95% CI: 2.02-25.09), and having a fair opinion about a recent interaction with primary healthcare services (2.75; 95% CI: 1.46-5.19). The proportion of older adults with limited general health literacy in Portugal is significant. This result should be considered to inform health planning according to the health literacy gap of older adults in Portugal.

Association of Sensory Impairment With Institutional Care Willingness Among Older Adults in Urban and Rural China: An Observational Study.

An aging population has contributed to increasing rates of sensory impairment (SI) among older adults and a boom in institutional elder care. However, little is known regarding the association between SI and institutional care willingness. This study identified the association between SI and institutional care willingness among older adults living both in urban and rural China. This was an observational study using the sixth National Health Service Survey of Shandong Province, China, in 2018. A total of 8 583 individuals aged ≥60 years were included. The primary outcome was institutional care willingness. Self-reported SI was categorized as vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), and dual sensory impairment (DSI). We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the association between SI and institutional care willingness, stratified by the place of residence. The overall proportion of older adults with institutional care willingness was 7.8%. In fully adjusted models, older adults with HI only (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-2.20) or DSI (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.14-2.49) were more likely to show institutional care willingness than those without SI in urban areas, but no significant associations between VI only (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.68-1.31), HI only (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.73-1.34), or DSI (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.68-1.31) and institutional care willingness were observed among rural older adults. Our results underscore that the relationship between SI and institutional care willingness varied by place of residence, and provide a reference for making targeted and appropriate endowment policies. Improving the quality of institutional elder care is vital for urban older adults with SI, whereas community-based care might be more appropriate for rural older adults with SI.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications among hospitalized older adults with COVID-19 in Malaysian tertiary hospitals

IntroductionOlder adults are among the most vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic, contributing to a large proportion of COVID-19-related death. Medication review and reconciliation by pharmacist can help reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications but these services were halted during COVID-19.AimTo assess the prevalence and factors associated with inappropriate medicine use among older populations with COVID-19.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of medications among hospitalized older adults with COVID-19. Potentially inappropriate medication use was categorized using the Beer’s and STOPP criteria.ResultsCombining both criteria, 181 (32.7%) of the 553 patients were identified to have used at least one or more potentially inappropriate medication. A marginally higher number of inappropriate medications was documented using the Beers 2019 criteria (151 PIM in 124 patients) compared to STOPP criteria (133 PIMS in 104 patients). The long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (n = 68; 12.3%) and drugs which increases the risk of postural hypotension were the most commonly reported PIM (n = 41; 7.4%). Potentially inappropriate medication use was associated with previous history of hospital admission in the past 12 months (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.27; 95% CI 1.29–3.99) and higher number of discharge medications.ConclusionsNearly, one in three older adults with COVID-19 had been prescribed a PIM, and the proportion of older adults with polypharmacy increased after discharge. This highlights the importance of having clinical pharmacist conducting medication reviews to identify PIMs and ensure medication appropriateness.

Creating a safe and inclusive living environment for LGBTQ+ older adults: A review of research, policy and literature

The proportion of older adults (65+) is increasing rapidly. Therefore, caring for older adults must be a priority of our society, in order for them to have a dignified life in old age. LGBTQ+ older adults are a heterogeneous, growing subset of the ageing population, with many challenges and needs. Old age is a vulnerable period for all populations, and LGBTQ+ older adults are even more vulnerable in this period. They face discrimination and stress in finding a safe and inclusive environment. Our research used the descriptive method - a scientific literature review. The selection of articles was made according to the following inclusion criteria: accessibility, scientificity, content relevance, and topicality. The issue of LGBTQ+ older adults in search of a suitable living environment through a qualitative content analysis of eight articles was addressed. We find that it is important for this population group to feel accepted, safe and connected to the community in their living environment. Studies still point to discrimination and stigma being experienced by LGBTQ+ people, especially in the institutional environment, which affects physical and mental health. In the future, we must ensure that employees involved in the long-term care of older adults have sufficient knowledge about this vulnerable group of the population. A safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ older adults must be promoted, where they can be accepted and feel connected to the community during their ageing.

Retirees Mental Health: Are There Risky Behaviors Used to Cope with the Retirement Transitions?

The aging process has imposed several challenges to Social Security and Health Care Systems, as the proportion of older adults has increased over the last decades, and will continue to increase in the following years [1,2]. In the U.S. people aged 65 and older was nearly 17% by 2020, and it is expected to rise to 22% by 2050 [1]. However, increased life expectancy dos not necessarily translate into healthy and log lives. Estimates from the World Health Organization [3] show that on average people live 14% of their life with some disability in 2019 – in the U.S. people live on average 16% of their lives with some disability. Ensuring healthier lives is key to promote the society wellbeing and to reduce health care cost.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NORWEGIAN OLDER ADULTS LIVING ALONE OVER THREE DECADES (1995–2019)

Abstract Introduction Among older adults who are living alone, social isolation, and physical and cognitive impairment are more common than among those who do not live alone. The proportion of older adults who live alone is expected to increase further. The current study investigated the disability and formal care service use among older adults living alone between 1995-2016 in Norway. Methods A total of 31,263 people aged 70+ participated in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) survey 2 (1995/97), 3 (2006/08), and 4 (2017/19). The study assessed the use of formal care including practical help (PH) and home nursing (HN), and disability in personal and instrumental activities of daily living (PADL:7 items and IADL: 6 items). Results More than 70% of older adults living alone were women (74% in HUNT2, 77% in HUNT3, 71% in HUNT4). The use of PH service among those who were living alone decreased from 33.7% to 18.6%, while HN service use increased from 10.4% to 16.4%. The percentage of PADL disability among those who lived alone was similar (10.3% to 9.1%) between 1995-2019. However, the percentage of IADL disability has decreased from 37.6% (1995-97) to 27% (2017-19) while in all cohorts IADL disability rates were significantly higher among those who were living alone than those who were living with others. Conclusions Although the use of HN service among older adults who were living alone decreased during 1995-2016, those who were living alone in all cohorts had higher IADL disability rates compared to those who lived with others.

IS THERE A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING AND ANXIETY AMONG OLDER ADULTS?

Abstract The growth of the Internet has provided users unlimited access to an abundance of information, including health information. The Internet is typically the first source searched by U.S. adults (18 years and older) when seeking health information. Factors such as age and anxiety are associated with online health information seeking (OHIS). Older adults (65 years and older) are increasing their Internet use and OHIS, although OHIS decreases with age. Importantly, OHIS can lead to improved health outcomes for older adults. The relationship between OHIS and anxiety is less clear, with some studies finding individuals with higher anxiety are more likely to search for online health information while others find the reverse pattern. Anxiety affects up to 20% of older adults and is often unrecognized and untreated. Given the lack of research examining the relationship between OHIS and anxiety among older adults and the proportion of older adults who experience anxiety, we analyzed six waves (2015- 2020) of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study to assess the causal relationship between anxiety and OHIS using a Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model framework, a statistical approach to assess causal relationships. These results suggest that anxiety is leading to OHIS in the next wave, rather than the reverse; however, OHIS was not related to anxiety in the next wave. This suggests that OHIS is not capable of mitigating older adults’ anxiety. Practitioners working with older adults should be aware that older adults may need additional support to manage their anxiety.