Greetings!

Welcome to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing's September 2009 eNewsletter featuring articles, reference materials, useful links, calendar of events and other best practice information on the care of older adults.

This eNewsletter is sponsored by ConsultGeriRN.org.

ConsultGeriRN.org is the authoritative geriatric clinical nursing website of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing and the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program, (www.nicheprogram.org). ConsultGeriRN.org contains evidence-based protocols and topics for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the care of older adults. Content is updated regularly.

We would like to hear from you!

Elder abuse and neglect, or elder mistreatment, aside from a social and legal problem, is an enormous health care problem that can lead to long term health consequences, including death. Elder mistreatment includes physical, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as caregiver neglect and self-neglect.

An interdisciplinary assessment and intervention plan for actual or potential elder abuse and neglect is essential to ensure the safety and health of older adults in any clinical setting. Assessment and intervention should be directed toward both the victim and the alleged perpetrator.
Learn more about "Elder Mistreatment and Abuse" with references and resources by visiting ConsultGeriRN.org.

REASN - Resourcefully Enhancing Aging in Specialty Nursing

ASPMN - Geriatric Pain Management Resource Nurse Course

Join PCNA for a half-day program to examine: the prevention of stroke through the assessment of inflammatory biomarkers; the link between patients with CVD and chronic kidney disease and the role of blood pressure; and behavior change theories as related to exercise and the challenges of medication adherence, with a focus on the older cardiovascular patient. Learn how to use the information presented in your practice and improve outcomes for cardiovascular disease prevention.

All professional disciplines, PCNA members and non-members are welcome to attend for FREE!

Register for an event in your area at www.pcna.net!

Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Dean of the College of Nursing at New York University & Co-Director of the Hartford Institute recently co-authored an article entiltled "Elder Self-neglect and Abuse and Mortality Risk in a Community-Dwelling Population" that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA. (2009;302(5):465.) Excerpt below.

". . . A 2000 survey from social service agencies suggests that reports of elder self-neglect and abuse are increasing. This trend is particularly alarming because the literature suggests that elder self-neglect and abuse may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the US National Research Council has urgently called for rigorous and systematic research on these issues, especially through population-based epidemiological studies, because current understanding of the consequences of elder self-neglect and abuse in the general population remains limited. In addition, elder self-neglect and abuse have traditionally been thought to be more common among the most vulnerable individuals, especially those with the most impaired cognitive and physical function. However, there is little information about the adverse health consequences of elder self-neglect or abuse across different levels of cognitive and physical function.

In this article, we investigate the risk of mortality associated with reported elder self-neglect or abuse in a large and sociodemographically diverse cohort and across different levels of cognitive and physical function."

Read the full article with references at the Journal of the American Medical Association website.

2010 Annual NICHE Conference

Urinary incontinence in older adults is associated with an increased risk of institutionalization, as well as with urinary tract infections and depression. Transient urinary incontinence arises suddenly, lasts less than six months, and results from reversible causes. Many caregivers erroneously consider urinary incontinence to be inevitable in older adults, especially in hospitalized patients. Failure to identify and respond to transient urinary incontinence may lead to established incontinence and to other poor outcomes after hospital discharge. A bladder diary and a mnemonic are two methods nurses can use to assess for transient urinary incontinence and its treatable underlying causes.

The How to Try This:® series, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University's College of Nursing in collaboration with the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). This initiative translates the evidence-based geriatric assessment tools in the Try This Assessment Series into cost-free, web-based print and video resources, for caring for older adults. This series can be viewed, downloaded, and shared without any fees. Articles may be printed and copied for educational use without copyright fees. View more information

Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN
Professor and Director
Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing
New York University College of Nursing

Have you looked at the recent photos of celebrities in the news? Unfortunately, like many Americans, many of them have gained some weight. More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and the number continues to rise (NY Times, Aug 11, 2009).

Obesity is a growing problem for nursing care. Wanich et al (Annals of Long-Term Care, July, 2009) document the burdens of care of obese individuals in nursing homes.

Let us know if and how you counsel your older patients about weight control. Remember, people aged 65 have a life expectancy of another 20 years, and, as compared to those who are not obese, obese older adults report poorer health and have a greater risk of nursing home admission.
What are your thoughts and ideas on this subject? Respond to us on our Hartford Institute forums!

For the past 5 years, the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (Hartford Institute) has been developing a Bill of Rights for Hospitalized Older Adults. The draft Bill of Rights is a result of extensive revisions and testing with older adults recently discharged from the hospital, and the language is at a 6th grade level.

As a final step in preparing the Bill of Rights, we're now inviting Public Comment from nurses and consumers. We'd like your feedback concerning the bill of rights, such as whether you agree that each statement is essential for the care of older adults in the hospital, suggested edits, additions or deletions. Comments are currently being gathered on the Hartford Institute Forums.

The Comment period will end on September 30th.

View the Hartford Institute's Bill of Rights for Hospitalized Older Adults.

Submit your comments on the Hartford Institute Forums. You must register with the Hartford Institute Forums to post comments!

In last month's enewsletter Deborah Chyun, PhD, RN, FAHA talked about active older adults in a 'Sound Off!' article entitled "AgeStrong" which addressed the physical benefits of an active lifestyle in older adults. Those of you who found last month's article noteworthy will probably also be interested in this piece written about the National Senior Games! ~ Editor@ConsultGeriRN.org

Palo Alto, Calif. - It's summer in California and the athletic facilities of Stanford University are abuzz with tanned, muscular men and women. But these aren't college athletes: August means it's time for the National Senior Games, the largest multisport event in the world for people 50 and over.

Read the full article from The Christian Science Monitor.