Elderly Resources

09 October 2024
Falls in the elderly come at a high cost, both to the NHS and to the health and confidence of the person who has fallen. Hospital-based trials in 2021 started to explore potential links between caffeine and falls associated with going to the toilet, given caffeine’s diuretic effect. In 2023, following positive trial outcomes, the project spread to social care, where a 35% reduction in falls associated with going to the toilet was seen when decaffeinated products were introduced as standard in eight care homes for the elderly. This article explores the Decaf Project and potential benefits of decaffeination in wider community settings, including for elderly people living in their own homes. It examines ways in which community nurses can support those in their care to understand potential benefits of decaffeination.
Topics:  Elderly
01 June 2021
Hourglass is the only charity in the UK focused on the abuse of older people and safer ageing. The charity rebranded from Action on Elder Abuse in March 2020 and receives around 8,000 calls from those affected by older abuse throughout the year. Currently, Hourglass is calling for amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill, so it better reflects the challenges and reality faced by older people throughout the UK. The seriousness and level of abuse taking place has been pulled into harsh focus by recent lockdowns. Hourglass wants to ensure that all victims, especially from older groups, receive the legal and
Topics:  Domestic abuse
05 June 2020

The recent pandemic has highlighted the impact of social isolation on health. District and community nurses are in daily contact with vulnerable, elderly clients for whom the norm is a world with little social contact. This compounds the health inequalities affecting this population. District and community nurses require support to meet the psychological and social needs of these clients. In order to improve the health of older people with long-term conditions, joint action between agencies, voluntary groups and charities is imperative. Inclusive and creative evidence-based interventions could be the public health solution to the emerging crisis in the psychological health of elderly clients with chronic conditions.

16 April 2019

There are a number of clinical conditions that result in dysphagia (difficulties swallowing food and drink). Sometimes dysphagia can resolve, however, for many it can be long term and also continue to deteriorate over time as the disease progresses. Successful management of dysphagia requires provision of differing levels of texture modification to an individual’s food and fluid consistency. It is important that this is assessed correctly so that the individual receives the appropriate consistency to swallow safely. If an inappropriate consistency is given, this can result in aspiration pneumonia, which can have fatal consequences. If individuals are given a consistency which has been over modified so that it is softer or thicker than required, their pleasure in food and drinks can be reduced unnecessarily, risking malnutrition and dehydration. This article introduces the differing consistencies which are recommended and the consequences that can result from incorrect consistencies being given. It also discusses suitable foods and fluids to meet both the requirements of the differing texture modifications and nutritional components of these consistencies.

Topics:  Elderly
14 June 2017

Sunday is a day we associate with friends and family. Cooking Sunday lunches, watching our favourite television shows and catching up with friends. But, for hundreds of thousands of older people across the UK, Sunday can be a day they dread. Contact the Elderly’s recent research reveals 76% of older people find Sunday to be the hardest day of the week.

Topics:  Community
22 October 2012

A report by the National Patient Safety Agency based on an analysis of over 200,000 falls, found that the majority of falls resulted in no harm; however other consequences such as a loss of confidence, increased likelihood of discharge to a residential or nursing home or an increased length of stay in the hospital cannot be easily captured or quantified. This article reports on a study undertaken to identify the risk factors and trends present in a cohort of patients that have suffered a fall in a community hospital.

Chetan Shah MPharm, Dip Clin Pharm, Cert Psych Ther., Principal Pharmacist – Community Services, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust,
Gillian Williams, MSc,BSc, RGN, Modern Matron, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust,
Jaikishan Joshi and Roobi Aziz, Research Students, School of Pharmacy, University of Hertfordshire.

Article accepted for publication: January 2012

15 October 2012

It is estimated that approximately 820,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and numbers are rising. Optimising treatment and care outcomes for those with dementia is vital. However, studies have shown that care is falling far short of what it needs to; people with dementia are not being supported in the early stages of the condition due to lack of early diagnosis and poor community support. This article outlines a novel approach to dementia care.

Zoë Elkins, Head of Care Strategy, The Good Care Group, London

Article accepted for publication: May 2012

Topics:  Memory system

Carol Postle-Hacon gives a critical analysis of the Health of the Nation White Paper ­ key area mental health, with particular regard to depression in the elderly.

Topics:  Health promotion

Joan Richardson defines elder abuse and describes how community nurses are in an ideal position to detect it.

Erica Denton outlines the treatment of hypertension in elderly people.