Care of older people

Managing osteoporosis in older people

How to understand bone health in the context of the older person, including risk assessment, prevention and the management of osteoporosis in patients likely to have multiple comorbidities.…

Long-term diuretic use may reduce fracture risk in people with Alzheimer’s disease

Use of thiazide diuretics for three years or more may reduce the risk of low-energy fracture in people with Alzheimer’s disease, study results have suggested.…

NHS England fails to fill 240 pharmacy posts in care homes by March 2019 deadline

NHS England has recruited just over 200 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work in care homes, despite suggesting that 240 roles would be filled by March 2019.…

‘One-size-fits-all’ treatment targets harm frail older patients with diabetes

HbA1c targets that ignore differences in the physiology of older patients put them at risk of severe hypoglycaemia, harm and death.…

Recognise care home pharmacy as a specialism, says RPS Scotland

Pharmaceutical care in care homes should be recognised as a specialist area and resourced accordingly, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s director for Scotland, Alex MacKinnon has said.…

At least one resident per care home on antibiotics, finds Boots UK study

A month-long survey looking at the antibiotic use of nearly 18,000 patients has revealed that at least one resident in each of 644 long-term care facilities in the UK was taking an antibiotic.…

Depression under-recognised in older adults during acute hospital stays

Diagnosis of depression is infrequently recorded on older adults’ patient notes, a survey of 27 acute hospitals across England has shown.…

Community pharmacists could bridge gap of care for older housebound patients, study shows

Nearly 40% of isolated, housebound patients have difficulties taking their medicines, including a lack of dexterity or difficulty swallowing, according to a study published in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.…

Exercise interventions reduce falls in older adults

The rate of falls in older adults living in the community can be effectively reduced with exercise interventions, the authors of a recent Cochrane review have concluded.…

Study questions link between antidepressants and hip fractures

A previously identified link between antidepressant use and hip fractures needs further examination, the authors of a study published in JAMA Psychiatry have concluded.…