Evidence and Practice
Managing malnutrition in older adults in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Benefits of medicines optimisation for older people living with frailty
Preventing, identifying and managing delirium in nursing homes and acute settings
Clinical
Managing malnutrition in older adults in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Care interventions for older adults in the community to identify malnutrition risk
Benefits of medicines optimisation for older people living with frailty
A case study of polypharmacy involving an older person living with frailty
Effective mouth care for older people living in nursing homes
The reasons why oral health can deteriorate in nursing home residents and potential effects
Identifying and treating sepsis in older people: a quality improvement project in Texas
Sepsis training for hospital and nursing home staff can reduce sepsis mortality
Developing a support group for carers of people living with dementia
A dementia nurse specialist who ran an educational support group for carers reflects on it
Fast-track training of temporary healthcare support workers to supplement hospital...
How a Scottish health board trained and redeployed staff to work as temporary healthcare support workers
CPD articles
Preventing, identifying and managing delirium in nursing homes and acute settings
Older people in nursing homes are vulnerable to delirium, a condition causing confusion
Holistic pain assessment in older people and older people living with dementia
Nurses have a crucial role in pain assessment for older people and those living with dementia
Sexually speaking: person-centred conversations with people living with a dementia
Nursing responsibilities in addressing sexuality in people living with a dementia
Type 2 diabetes in older people: pathophysiology, identification and management
Exploring the implications of increased longevity and how this is linked to type 2 diabetes
Sexual health and well-being in later life
This article defines sexual health and explores the changes people experience in later life
How therapeutic communication can reduce distress in people with dementia
Newcastle Model’s biopsychosocial framework is revisited to understand the caregiving context
How to
How to address the communication needs of older patients with hearing loss
Hearing loss is a common problem in older people and may have a negative effect on their care while in hospital, as well as resulting in significant cost to the NHS. This article outlines the findings of a two-year project in an NHS trust to improve the care of older people with hearing loss. An important outcome of the project was the development of a hearing loss toolkit containing good practice recommendations and tools to help staff in all NHS trusts, and other care settings, implement practical and cost-effective improvements.
How to use advance care planning in a care home
Admission to a care home is a major event for many individuals and, for some, a time when they may lose their independence. It is at this juncture that they should be given the opportunity to participate in planning their future care. An advance care plan (ACP) is a means for people with capacity to document their preferences for their care and to enable providers to advocate on their behalf. Some people will have lost mental capacity before admission to a care facility, so it is essential for staff to be familiar with the complexities of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to support residents approaching the end of life. This article outlines the processes of ACP and identifies resources available to support the introduction of ACP into care homes.
Practice question
How do I use the Clinical Frailty Scale?
Frailty identification instruments improve outcomes and help plan for future needs
How do I manage delirium in older people with COVID-19?
Delirium is a common coronavirus symptom, and people in long-term care facilities are at risk
My research study improves patient care – how can I share it?
Tips and rules for successfully sharing your research at a conference or professional meeting
How do I encourage older people to become physically active?
Types of physical activity that can benefit older adults and some suggested resources
How can I ensure dementia care is based on the best available evidence?
Critically appraised topic (CAT) process helps ensure clinical practice is evidence-based
How do I manage the care of an older person with delirium?
Guidelines recommend prompt detection by screening older people on admission to hospital