Parkinson’s Disease and the Pandemic

Angie SzumlinskiNews

As we continue our journey through the pandemic of 2020, many of us have suffered negative outcomes related to loneliness and isolation. As the experts have been preaching and CMS finally agreed, isolation in anyone, but especially in seniors, can have a devastating, long-term effect. We are seeing this in our centers, with many deaths, albeit unrelated to the virus …

Trauma Informed Care – The Time Is Now

Angie SzumlinskiNews

We all know the negative impact of isolation on seniors living in our communities, but I had never heard it referred to as “confinement syndrome”. In an article published in JAMDA, that is the term used to describe the signs of depression, isolation, delirium, decreased cognitive awareness, etc. that our residents have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. If …

Elderly Patient in Hospital

Isolation and Mortality

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Social isolation, generally defined as having few social network ties or infrequent social contact, is an important public health concern that affects many older adults. By age 85, 39% of older adults live alone, and socially isolated adults experience high rates of negative health outcomes, including premature mortality and a 5% increase in the risk of dementia. In the LTC …

Be Alert – Be Aware

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Social isolation – a measure of an individual’s social contact and networks, is detrimental to health and well-being. Two researchers (Berkman and Syme) developed the “Social Network Index, a summary measure of social isolation derived from several components: Marital status Participation in church groups and other groups Number and frequency of contact with close friends/relatives They found that men and …

Mental Health During Pandemic

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists into late 2020, findings from the new NSHAP-COVID Study show that many older adults are resuming in-person interactions. Older adults who are known to be at higher risk for COVID-19 would be expected to be particularly careful about potential exposure to the virus. Yet the data show that 53% of older adults report no change …

Weight Loss During Restrictions

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

To mitigate the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), nursing homes are following the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines and are not allowing communal dining, group activities, and only essential visitors are allowed. A study was conducted on data analysis of nursing home resident weights from a single 240-bed non-profit nursing home located in a suburban area, …