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Full-Text Articles in Geriatric Nursing
Efficacy Of A Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation For Moderate To Late Alzheimer’S Disease: A Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study, Ruth Remington, A Chan, Thomas Shea
Efficacy Of A Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation For Moderate To Late Alzheimer’S Disease: A Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study, Ruth Remington, A Chan, Thomas Shea
Ruth Remington
Recent studies demonstrated efficacy of a vitamin/ nutriceutical formulation (folate, vitamin B12, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine) for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we tested the efficacy of this formulation in a small cohort of 12 institutionalized patients diagnosed with moderate-stage to later-stage Alzheimer's disease. Participants were randomly separated into treatment of placebo groups. Participants receiving the formulation demonstrated a clinically significant delay in decline in the Dementia Rating Scale and clock-drawing test as compared to those receiving placebo. Institutional caregivers reported approximately 30% improvement in the Neuropyschiatric Inventory and maintenance of performance in the Alzheimer's Disease …
Dehydration Reduction In The Community Dwelling Older Adult: Perspectives Of Community Health Care Providers, Lisa Abdallah, Ruth Remington, S Houde, L Zhan, Karen Melillo
Dehydration Reduction In The Community Dwelling Older Adult: Perspectives Of Community Health Care Providers, Lisa Abdallah, Ruth Remington, S Houde, L Zhan, Karen Melillo
Ruth Remington
Dehydration is a common problem among older adults and can negatively affect their health. This crosssectional descriptive study used survey findings and focus group interviews to investigate dehydration problems among community-dwelling older adults and to identify strategies perceived to be helpful in preventing dehydration in this population. The survey sample (n = 18) and four focus groups (n = 36) included health care providers in the northeast United States from provider agencies representing emergency care, home care, primary care, and community health care. Survey findings indicated that 89% of participantsidentify dehydration as a problem affecting older adults, and 94% noted …
Interpreting Laboratory Values In The Rehabilitation Setting, Jane Flanagan, Karen Melillo, Lisa Abdallah, Ruth Remington
Interpreting Laboratory Values In The Rehabilitation Setting, Jane Flanagan, Karen Melillo, Lisa Abdallah, Ruth Remington
Ruth Remington
Treating patients in rehabilitation settings is becoming increasingly complex for a variety of reasons, such as the presence of several comorbid conditions, increased age, and earlier discharge from acute care facilities. As a result, careful monitoring and assessment by nurses is essential. Laboratory testing can improve the assessment when nurses are able to recognize when and what should be reported and what types of treatments may be needed. Understanding what laboratory findings should be monitored and what added assessment criteria are necessary can be daunting. Therefore, this article reviews critical laboratory and other assessment findings in light of common health …
Apple Juice Improved Non-Cognitive Symptoms In Moderate- To Late-Stage Alzheimer’S Disease In An Open-Label Pilot Study, Ruth Remington, A Chan, A Lepore, E Kotlya, Thomas Shea
Apple Juice Improved Non-Cognitive Symptoms In Moderate- To Late-Stage Alzheimer’S Disease In An Open-Label Pilot Study, Ruth Remington, A Chan, A Lepore, E Kotlya, Thomas Shea
Ruth Remington
Preclinical studies demonstrate that apple juice exerts multiple beneficial effects including reduction of central nervous system oxidative damage, suppression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) hallmarks, improved cognitive performance, and organized synaptic signaling. Herein, we initiated an open-label clinical trial in which 21 institutionalized individuals with moderate-to-severe AD consumed 2 4-oz glasses of apple juice daily for 1 month. Participants demonstrated no change in the Dementia Rating Scale, and institutional caregivers reported no change in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS)-Activities of Daily Living (ADL) in this brief study. However, caregivers reported an approximate 27% (P < .01) improvement in behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with dementia as quantified by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, with the largest changes in anxiety, agitation, and delusion. This pilot study suggests that apple juice may be a useful supplement, perhaps to augment pharmacological approaches, for attenuating the decline in mood that accompanies progression of AD, which may also reduce caregiver burden.
A Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation Improves Memory And Cognitive Performance In Community-Dwelling Adults Without Dementia, A Chan, Ruth Remington, E Kotlya, A Lepore, J Zemianek, Thomas Shea
A Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation Improves Memory And Cognitive Performance In Community-Dwelling Adults Without Dementia, A Chan, Ruth Remington, E Kotlya, A Lepore, J Zemianek, Thomas Shea
Ruth Remington
Adults of both genders without dementia consumed a nutriceutical formulation ("NF," consisting of folic acid, B12, Vitamin E, S-adenosylmethionine, N-acetyl cysteine and Acetyl-L-carnitine), previously shown to improve cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease, or placebo. Participants receiving NF but not placebo improved statistically and clinically in the California Verbal Learning Test II and the Trail-Making Test. Both groups improved further during a 3-month open-label extension. Additional individuals displayed identical improvement during a separate 6-month open-label trial. Performance declined to baseline following withdrawal of NF, and statistically improved when participants resumed taking NF. Additional participants receiving NF but not placebo demonstrated improvement …
Managing Problem Behaviors Associated With Dementia, Ruth Remington, Lisa Abdallah, Karen Melillo, Jane Flanagan
Managing Problem Behaviors Associated With Dementia, Ruth Remington, Lisa Abdallah, Karen Melillo, Jane Flanagan
Ruth Remington
The older adult with dementia who exhibits problem behaviors is likely to be experiencing physical or psychological distress. Both can negatively affect the health, rehabilitation and quality of life for the older adult. Managing problem behaviors can challenge the skills of the most experienced nurse. Being able to identify the origins of these behaviors can help caregivers respond in a way that will achieve behavioral management and preserve the dignity of the older adult. This article presents some practical measures to assist nurses with minimizing the negative effects of dementia-associated problem behaviors in older adults.
The Clock-Drawing Test: Time For A Change?, A Chan, Ruth Remington, J Paskavitz, Thomas Shea
The Clock-Drawing Test: Time For A Change?, A Chan, Ruth Remington, J Paskavitz, Thomas Shea
Ruth Remington
Clock-drawing tests are simple and rapid screening devices for dementia. It was observed that individuals (" . . .make the clock read 12:45") or an analog prompt (" . . .quarter to 1"), whereas individuals >70 years of age showed improved performance with an analog prompt. The digital prompt has routinely been used to force participants to recode the prompt via conceptualization. Differential scoring across a range of ages has likely derived from the advent and increase of digital clocks with the younger segment of the population. This implies the need for as-yet undetermined alteration in the nature of prompts …
Effects Of Emergency Department Care Coordination Team Referrals In Older People Presenting With A Fall, Kristie J Harper, Nicholas P. Gibson, Annette D Barton, Antonio C Petta, Sara K Pearson, Antonio Celenza
Effects Of Emergency Department Care Coordination Team Referrals In Older People Presenting With A Fall, Kristie J Harper, Nicholas P. Gibson, Annette D Barton, Antonio C Petta, Sara K Pearson, Antonio Celenza
Research outputs 2013
Objectives: The study aims to describe the characteristics of patients presenting to an ED with a fall and evaluate multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team (CCT) referrals on patient outcomes. Methods: A single-centred retrospective analysis of electronic data at an adult tertiary hospital was performed using data from 2004 to 2009 of presentations for patients aged 65 years or over with a fall. The primary outcome measure was representation to hospital within 30 days, comparing patients referred to CCT and those not referred. Secondary outcomes were differences in demographic characteristics, mode of arrival, triage score and readmission. Results: The proportion of ED …