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The article presents a study which examined the effect of antimicrobial treatment for pneumonia on survival and comfort in patients with advanced dementia. Data were gathered from 323 nursing home residents in 22 facilities in Boston, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2009. Suspected pneumonia episodes which were treated with antimicrobial agents were experienced by residents. It is concluded that prolonged survival resulted from antimicrobial treatment of suspected pneumonia episodes but not with improved comfort in nursing home residents.

The article discusses a study which investigated the association between chronic musculosleketal pain and an increased occurrence of falls in a cohort of community-living older adults in Boston, Massachusetts. The study involved participants in the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston Study. Falls were recorded by participants on monthly calendar postcards mailed to the study center. The researchers found that there was an association between chronic pain and greater risk of falls in older adults.

Tracking falls among elders is challenging. In this reliability study, which took place between October 2007 and February 2008, the authors compared participants’ daily recordings of falls on calendars with a telephone survey of recall of falls over the previous 3 months within the population-based MOBILIZE Boston Study cohort, a cohort of 765 elders. From the cohort, 218 participants were randomly selected. Falls were tracked prospectively on daily calendars (mailed back monthly). Telephone recalls of falls over the previous 3 months were conducted in January and February 2008. Agreement, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to compare the occurrence of falls as determined by 3-month recall with falls recorded by daily calendar (gold standard) during the same 3-month period. Results showed good agreement between recall and calendars: 27 persons reported a fall by both methods. However, while the 3-month recall correctly classified persons who did not fall (164 persons by both methods), it missed 25% of participants who fell (of 36 participants with a calendar-reported fall, 9 did not report a fall by telephone recall). Kappa was 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.68, 0.80), sensitivity was 75%, and specificity was 96%. Retrospective 3-month recall of falls resulted in underreporting of falls by as much as 25% compared with daily calendars. Calendars should be considered the preferred method of ascertaining falls in longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study which described the prevalence of delirium and severity among elders assessed at admission to postacute facilities in Boston, Massachusetts. Assessment instruments used in the study; Groups of delirium patients in the study; Reasons behind the difficulty of recognizing delirium in a postacute setting.

Conducting research in elderly populations is important, but challenging. In this paper, the authors describe specific challenges that have arisen and solutions that have been used in carrying out The MOBILIZE Boston Study, a community-based, prospective cohort study in Massachusetts focusing on falls among 765 participants aged 70 years or older enrolled during 2005–2007. To recruit older individuals, face-to-face interactions are more effective than less personal approaches. Use of a board of community leaders facilitated community acceptance of the research. Establishing eligibility for potential participants required several interactions, so resources must be anticipated in advance. Assuring a safe and warm environment for elderly participants and offering a positive experience are a vital priority. Adequate funding, planning, and monitoring are required to provide transportation and a fully accessible environment in which to conduct study procedures as well as to select personnel highly skilled in interacting with elders. It is hoped that this paper will encourage and inform future epidemiologic research in this important segment of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]