Recent Presentation on Decision Making among Older Adults with Pain 

Catherine Riffin, a Doctoral Candidate at Cornell University and a TRIPLL Pilot awardee, recently made a presentation at the Bronfrenbrenner Center for Translational Research titled: "Communication Planning among  Older Adults with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain." Her talk focused on the decision making process of older adults experiencing chronic pain and what factors determine whether they seek help from family members, friends, or health care professionals. 

Click here for the presentation.

Dance Therapy for Improving Mobility

Courtesy of www.knowledge.allianz.com

The authors of a recent study published in Geriatric Nursing examined evidence suggesting that "decreased gait speed in older adults can lead to dependency" as a result of pain and stiffness. The authors enrolled 37 older adults from a local senior center who reported lower extremity pain. Participants were then separated into a Healthy-Steps dance therapy group or a non-dance therapy control group. The authors conclude that "study findings support the need for additional research using dance-based therapy for older adults with lower extremity pain."

Full Story

Improving Insomnia Symptoms may Predict Long-term Improvements in Sleep, Pain and Fatigue among Older Adults

The authors of a recent study published in Pain "examined the relationship between short-term improvement in sleep and long-term sleep, pain and fatigue outcomes among older adults through secondary analyses of randomized controlled trial data." The authors enrolled 367 older adults age 60 and older with osteoarthritis (OA) pain and insomnia from a local primary care population. The authors conclude that "the findings are consistent with benefits of improved sleep for chronic pain and fatigue among older persons with osteoarthritis pain and co-morbid insomnia if robust improvements in sleep are achieved and sustained."

Full Story

Pain Among Ethnically Diverse Older Adults

Courtesy of www.webmd.com

The authors of a recent study published in Journal of Applied Gerontology evaluated "ethnic variations on pain prevalence, intensity, interference/function/disability, and treatment in older adults." The authors searched major scientific databases from 1990-2011 and identified 27 studies that met their inclusion criteria. Of the 27 accepted studies, 17 (63%) found that minority older adults reported a higher prevalence of pain and higher pain intensity compared with responses by non-Hispanic White older adults. The authors conclude that "there are interracial/ethnic differences in pain assessment and treatment interventions among older adults."

Full Story

Pain and Depression Among Older Adults

The authors of recent study published in Orthopaedic Nursing evaluated the "evidence indicating that depression and chronic pain co-occur, and both experiences tend to worsen as the number of comorbidities increases" among older adults. The authors enrolled 1,592 community dwelling older adults who "reported the presence of bodily pain."  The authors conclude that the "prevalence and impact of pain and other co-occurring conditions suggest their importance in planning care for the elderly with arthritis."

Full Story