A new vision for the Population Aging Research Center
For more than 25 years, PARC has been a hub for work on disparities in aging and mortality. Co-directors Hans-Peter Kohler and Norma Coe, who took over in July, want to expand its reach.
The hidden COVID-19 health crisis: Elderly people are dying from isolation
Joshua Uy of the Perelman School of Medicine said isolation increases the aging process in elderly nursing home residents. “You see increased falls, decrease in strength and ability to ambulate. You see an acceleration of dementia because there is no rhythm to your day,” he said. “There isn’t a single part of a person’s life that isn’t affected.”
Older adults deserve to vote too—here's the support they need
Jason Karlawish and Emily Largent of the Perelman School of Medicine and a George Mason University colleague wrote about the need to support older adults in participating in elections. “The votes of older adults count just as much as the votes of others, and limiting their right to vote diminishes their dignity and their legal standing as U.S. citizens,” they wrote.
As a high school student, junior Darcey Hookway spent time volunteering on a dementia ward at a local hospital. “The social aspect of their condition really struck me,” says Hookway, who is from London. “They struggled immensely with social isolation. And now with COVID exacerbating that more than ever, I think that’s a huge detriment to their health.”
Much like in traditional improv, participants in the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy play off of each other, running scenes or throwing each other imaginary balls of varying sizes, for example. Though some facets changed as the sessions went virtual, the program remains well-loved and well-attended. (Pre-pandemic image: Terrance Casey)
An improv class that enriches the mind and soul, even remotely
The Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy program gives people with memory impairments and their caregivers a no-pressure space to think creatively, socialize, and be part of a community.
When will long-term care facilities reopen to visitors?
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the effect of social-distancing requirements on long-term-care facilities. “It’s not just COVID that’s killing residents in long-term care,” he said. “It’s the isolation, the loneliness.”
For residents’ good, nursing homes should consider re-allowing visitors
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine, Allison K. Hoffman of the Law School, and a Harvard Medical School colleague advocated for a COVID-19 containment strategy that allows for long term care facility residents to receive visitors.
COVID-19 has led to drastic changes in how hospitals provide end-of-life care to patients and their families. With strict no-visiting limitations in place in an effort to stem contagion, patients have been dying alone.
Long-term use of muscle relaxants has skyrocketed since 2005
Penn Medicine researchers found the drugs were prescribed disproportionately to older adults, often concurrently with opioids, despite warnings against this dangerous combination.
