Osteoporosis: An Underlying Culprit

Older people who break a bone in a fall from no greater than their standing height – called a “fragility fracture” – are two to five times more likely to suffer another than someone who has not suffered such a break, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF).

And it appears to be progressive – if they suffer a second fracture the odds of a third are even higher. Surprisingly, many of these seniors are not tested or treated for what causes most of these fractures.

In fact, the underlying culprit is often osteoporosis, a progressive disease that decreases the weight and density of bones, making them more brittle. Osteoporosis doesn’t have any obvious symptoms, only coming to light when fractures occur.

According to the NOF, approximately half of all women and one-quarter of all men will suffer at least one fragility fracture after age 50.

 “Identifying and treating the underlying cause is equally important so we can prevent fractures from occurring and enable our patients to continue doing the activities they enjoy,” said Cynthia Emory, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. 

Hearing Loss Could Dampen a Senior’s Social Life

A study of seniors between the ages of 80 and 98 reports that impaired hearing could cause potentially serious social problems. New research from the University of Gothenburg shows that this change in personality is amplified among people with impaired hearing. The findings, the researchers say, emphasize the importance of acknowledging and treating hearing loss in the elderly population.

Here’s how the study played out: Researchers observed 400 individuals 80-98 years old over a six-year period. Every two years, the subjects were assessed in terms of physical and mental measures, as well as personality aspects such as extraversion, which reflects the inclination to be outgoing, and emotional stability.

The results show that even if the emotional stability remained constant over the period, the participants became less outgoing. Interestingly, the researchers were not able to connect the observed changes to physical and cognitive impairments or to age-related difficulties in finding social activities. The only factor that could be linked to reduced extraversion was hearing loss.

Research: Quality Sleep Can Prevent Cognitive Decline

A study at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI) in San Francisco of older men found a link between poor sleep quality and the development of cognitive decline over three to four years.

Results of the study, published in the journal Sleep, show that higher levels of fragmented sleep and lower sleep efficiency were associated with a 40 to 50 percent increase in the odds of cognitive decline, similar to a five-year increase in age.

“It was the quality of sleep that predicted future cognitive decline in this study, not the quantity,” said lead author Terri Blackwell, MA, senior statistician at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI) in San Francisco, Calif.

Following, from the National Institute on Aging, are tips for a safe and good night’s sleep:

• ·         Try to set up a safe and restful place to sleep.
• ·         Keep a telephone with emergency phone numbers by your bed.
• ·         Have a good lamp within reach that turns on easily.
• ·         Put a glass of water next to the bed in case you wake up thirsty.
• ·         Use nightlights in the bathroom and hall.
• ·         Don’t smoke, especially in bed.
• ·         Remove area rugs so you won’t trip if you get out of bed in the middle of the night.
• ·         Don’t fall asleep with a heating pad on; it may burn.

For additional details about the study, visit http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=29394

Family Caregivers Happier When Continuing Hobbies

Stroke caregivers are happier when they continue to enjoy their own hobbies and interests, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

Interestingly, researchers found that the happiest of the 399 family caregivers maintained their own hobbies and activities, and were the happiest when caring for a loved one who survived a more severe stroke.

“I was most surprised that caregivers were happier when caring for a family member who survived a more severe stroke,” said Jill Cameron, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy in the Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Toronto.

Research revealed that the caregiver’s attitude also impacts happiness. If caregivers feel they can handle taking care of a family member and that they will grow from the experience, and they continue to take part in activities that interest them, they are happier, she said.

Researchers said learning which factors led to more content caregivers will allow the healthcare system to make adjustments to better support stroke survivors and their families. “If the family is doing better, that helps the patient do better,” Cameron said.

For more information about the study, visit http://newsroom.heart.org/news/older-active-confident-stroke-caregivers-are-happiest.

Research: Grief Increases Heart Attack, Stroke Risk

Grief can be debilitating and, according to recent research, dangerous. Risk of a heart attack or stroke increases during the 30 days following the death of a partner, at least for seniors, according to a study released in an edition of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Iain M. Carey, M.Sc., Ph.D., of St. George’s University of London, and colleagues compared the rate of heart attack or stroke in 30,447 patients (60 to 89 years of age) whose partner died to that of 83,588 individuals whose partners were still alive during the same period.

Fifty patients (0.16 percent) experienced a heart attack or stroke within 30 days of their partner’s death. In the control group 67 people (0.08 percent) suffered these events.

This increased risk of heart attack or stroke in bereaved men and women diminished after 30 days.

“We have described a marked increase in cardiovascular risk in the month after spousal bereavement, which seems likely to be the result of negative responses associated with acute grief,” the authors concluded.

Death of a spouse is a life-changing event. Encourage your loved one to to see her doctor and explain what’s happened and describe how she is feeling. The physician could recommend any number of treatments from counseling to medication.

For more information about the study, go to http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-02/tjnj-dop022414.php.

Depression Under-Treated in Elderly and Men, Survey Finds

Experts agree that depression is a potentially serious illness. And, according to a recent study reported in General Hospital Psychiatry, under-treatment is widespread, especially for some groups including men and the elderly.

Researchers used data from 13,320 U.S. adults who answered a nine-question survey widely used to diagnose depression. In the sample, 24.1 percent were depressed, with 36.6 of the depressed group having moderate-to-severe depression. Overall, 70 percent of depressed people in the study had received no treatment whatsoever.

The study also showed that for patients with moderate or moderate-to-severe depression, only 1 in 5 received any treatment and only 1 in 4 received medication, according to lead author Saranrat Wittayanukor, a doctoral student in the department of health outcomes research and policy at Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy.

Participants who were male, Mexican- or African-American, and older than 80 were identified as being at special risk for receiving no treatment.

“It’s important information,” said Bradley Gaynes, M.D., MPH, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, “for patients who may avoid discussing depression due to stigma, for clinicians who may not discuss depression because doing so cuts into the time they have to address other conditions, and for payers, who may question the need to cover its care.”

 To learn more about this report, visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu/news_events/2013_2014/depression_study.htm.

Seniors Returning to Community Face “Potentially Preventable” Hospital Admissions

Statistics for years have been nearly unanimous. As many as 90 percent of seniors typically say they want to age at home. But illness and the effects of aging could jeopardize that goal. A recent study has found that older adults eligible for Medicaid and Medicare who were moved into community care from nursing homes had a 40 percent greater risk of “potentially preventable” hospitalizations.

Lack of training are among reasons why care in home and community settings is not as effective in preventing hospitalizations, said Andrea Wysocki, a postdoctoral scholar in the Brown University School of Public Health and lead author of the study.

Wysocki said her finding of a higher potentially preventable hospitalization risk for seniors who transitioned to community- or home-based care suggests that some medical needs are not as well addressed in community settings as they are in nursing homes. More vigilant and effective treatment for chronic, already-diagnosed ailments such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could prevent some of the hospitalizations that occur.

What many don’t realize is that home care may provide the kind of support that could help keep seniors out of the hospital. In a pilot of 30 patients returning home from the hospital, one Home Instead Senior Care^® office found that 96 percent stayed out of the hospital longer than 30 days with daily assistance at home in such tasks as medication education and reminders, assistance in monitoring and tracking health reports, and follow-up doctor’s appointments.

For additional details about the study, visit http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2014/01/hospitals. And to learn more about ways to keep seniors out of the hospital, go to ReturningHome.com.

Lonely? Solitude Could be Deadly, Research Reveals

There are few things more traumatic than the loss of a lifetime companion. What’s worse, the loneliness that you feel could be jeopardizing your health in a big way, according to recent research.

Feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person’s chances of premature death by 14 percent, according to research by psychologist John Cacioppo, one of the nation’s leading experts on loneliness.

The impact of loneliness on dying prematurely is nearly as strong as the impact of being socially and economically disadvantaged, which Cacioppo and his University of Chicago colleagues – in other research – found increases the chances of dying early by 19 percent.

The consequences of loneliness to health are dramatic and include disrupting sleep, elevating blood pressure, increasing depression and lowering that overall feeling of well-being, Cacioppo said.

Older people can avoid these consequences by staying in touch with former co-workers, taking part in family traditions and sharing good times with family and friends, all of which gives them a chance to connect with others, Cacioppo said.

“Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you,” Cacioppo said.

Staying connected may be easier said than done, especially for seniors like you who have lost spouses. Although some people are happy to be alone, most of us need each other. Research has revealed that people thrive from social situations in which they provide mutual support and develop strong rapport.

For more information about the study, visit http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/02/16/aaas-2014-loneliness-major-health-risk-older-adults.