Geriatrics | Penn Today

As coronavirus shut down support systems, the struggles of dementia patients and caregivers only get worse

The Penn Memory Center’s Sara Manning, Allison K. Hoffman of the Law School, and Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine wrote about the effects of social distancing and the pandemic on the “already-precarious system for community-based long term care” for patients with dementia.

Older person’s torso closeup with hands holding onto a walker

Among North Philadelphia’s Latino elders during COVID-19

School of Nursing faculty member and LDI Senior Fellow Adriana Perez conducts research in two of the Philadelphia area’s largest Latino communities and provides insights into how COVID-19 is impacting each.

A nurse with gloved hands puts an IV in the arm of an elderly patient

What the pandemic teaches us about nursing home care

Balancing patient safety and financial stability grows more challenging as nursing homes manage post-acute care patients recovering from COVID-19.

Pa. nursing homes tighten restrictions to control for potential coronavirus spread

Kirstin Manges of the Perelman School of Medicine said nursing homes are usually selected for their physical environments and staff friendliness. “However, there is very little out there to allow patients or caregivers to identify how well prepared a nursing home is for a disaster or an outbreak, whether it be the flu or a pandemic,” she said.

For aging patients, one missed doctor’s visit can lead to vision loss

A Penn Medicine study found keeping regular ophthalmology appointments play an important role in outcomes for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Where did all the men go? In Philly, women outnumber them by 90,000 — the widest ‘gender gap’ among major U.S. cities.

Janet Chrzan and Adriana Perez of the School of Nursing hypothesized about the reasons women are outliving men in Philadelphia. “Women are tougher,” said Chrzan. “They have better immune systems, and they tend to survive better than men in every society.”

Virtual reality is having a senior moment

PIK Professor George Demiris said virtual reality has shown early promise for dementia patients, though it’s not a substitute for human contact. “We have to look at innovation and different tools to come up with new solutions to address issues of social isolation and loneliness and allow people to stay engaged and active,” he said.

A group of people with Alzheimer's and an instructor stand in a circle in a large dance studio with their arms outstretched, bending their knees.

Memory in Motion uses dance as communication when words fail

The goal for Memory in Motion, a program at the Penn Memory Center, is to get participants—both those with cognitive deficits of many levels and their caregivers—to listen and move to music.

person in wheelchair looks out the window, elder in an eldercare facility with a lack of nurses present.

Nursing home nurses lack time and resources for complete care

Evidence from hospitals has shown for years that nurses are more likely to leave necessary patient care undone when employed in settings with insufficient staff and resources. This “missed care” has been linked to poor care quality.

5 questions: Penn doctors study why elderly patients become confused after surgery

Lee A. Fleisher of the Perelman School of Medicine and Rebecca Trotta of the School of Nursing discussed post-surgical cognitive changes in older adults. “The severity is really a function of what their baseline state is. So if they come in with some memory decline, what people might call mild memory problems, and they’re frail, they are at the greatest risk,” said Fleisher. “On the other side, a higher education level is protective. People who are more active, physically and mentally, are less at risk.”

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