Issue

From the Publisher

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:40:50 -0500

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to bring you the “2008 Clinical Compendium” from the publishers of Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging. We invited some leading authors to contribute the latest findings, recommendations for practice, clinical pearls, and website resources on important clinical topics of interest to the interdisciplinary team caring for older patients.

We hope that you find this resource useful, and we look forward to continuing to provide the most up-to-date evidence-based information for healthcare professionals practicing in
the long-term care setting.

Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Nursing Home

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:48:27 -0500

Author Affiliations: From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Baltimore, MD.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM), primarily type 2, is a prevalent, resource-intensive condition in nursing homes (NHs), which may have significant impact on residents’ function and quality of life. Upon admission to a NH, 26.4% of residents have a diagnosis of DM, including short-stay (< 6 mo) and long-stay residents (> 6 mo), whose placement may be permanent.1 Almost half of residents with DM will become long-stay residents.1 Comp

Wound Care Technologies: Emerging Evidence for Appropriate Use in Long-Term Care

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:01:27 -0500

Author Affiliations: Drs. Takahashi, Chandra, and Targonski are at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic; Drs. Takahashi and Targonski are also at the Mayo Clinic Robert and Arlene Kogod Program on Aging; and Mr. Kiemele is at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Introduction

Wound management in long-term care (LTC) can present many challenges to the ultimate goal of complete wound healing. Healthcare providers frequently encounter and manage pressure ulcers, ischemic

Constipation in Long-Term Care

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:25:31 -0500

Author Affiliations: Dr. Tariq is former Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical Director of the Acute Care of Elderly (ACE Unit), Division of Geriatric Medicine, Saint Louis University; and currently a Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, MO.

The intestine tends to become sluggish with age.

—Hippocrates

No organ in the body is so misunderstood, so slandered and maltreated as the colon.

—Sir Arthur Hurst, 1935

Constipation is reported in over 33 million adults, which makes

Late-Life Depression

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:47:43 -0500

Author Affiliations: Dr. Attupurath is in private practice in New Haven, CT; Drs. Menon and Nair practice medicine in Kerala, India; and Drs. Muralee and Tampi are at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is undiagnosed in approximately half of all elderly persons with this disorder.1 Contributing to this fact is that elderly patients are more likely than their younger counterparts to see their primary care physician rather than a psychiatrist.2 Major depressive disorder is not uncommon, occurring in approximatel

Diagnosis and Management of Dementia in Long-Term Care

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:10 -0500

Author Affiliations: Dr. Wilkins is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Dr. Carr is Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; and Dr. Moylan is Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia.

Introduction

With as many as 12% of individuals over age 65 years and half of all individuals over age 85 years affected by dementia of the Alzheimer’s type,1 the economic and social impact of this disease is tremendous.2 Due to worsening

Voiding Disorders in Long-Term Care

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:31:14 -0500

Author Affiliations: Dr. Srulevich is a faculty member, Department of Medicine, in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; and Dr. Chopra is Professor of Medicine, Director of Education and Clinical Programs, New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ.

Introduction

As many as half of all residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities suffer