Wound Care - Interim Health Care Senior Care News

Discontinuing osteoporosis meds after certain fractures is beneficial

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:05:57 GMT

Bisphosphonates are frequently given to people with osteoporosis to enhance bone density and reduce the risk of fracture caused by this bone condition.

Indigestion drugs may increase hip fracture risk in older women

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:19:37 GMT

Older women who take indigestion drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are 35 percent more likely to break a hip than those who do not take these medications, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal.

Study: Home care may be better after surgeries

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:13:22 GMT

Seniors who live in nursing homes may suffer from more complications after surgeries than others their age who live at home or receive home healthcare, Reuters Health reports.

Prescription medication may increase falling risk

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:15:49 GMT

People who take more than two prescription medications are more than twice as likely to fall than those who take nothing, according to a recent study published in Injury Prevention.

Bone strength important in older women

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:05:15 GMT

Seniors tend to get shorter as they age, a symptom of bones losing density.

Tips for avoiding winter falls

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:24:15 GMT

Seniors are more likely to fall than most demographics all year long, because of disease, loss of vision and a number of other issues.

Hip replacement failures get a price tag

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:04:27 GMT

The pain and inconvenience of failed hip replacements have been plaguing patients for years, but now experts are starting to estimate how much the failures of a certain type of hip replacement are going to cost taxpayers, insurers, employers and others in the coming years.

Doctor notification system could help osteoporosis patients

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:40:33 GMT

Fractures are common in osteoporosis patients, and a new study found that a basic notification system may help prevent further fractures in those who have already had them.

New finding may streamline treatment for hip replacement patients

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:40:14 GMT

New research by University of Maryland School of Medicine students found that more than half of older hip surgery patients who had anemia did not need blood transfusions as they recovered from the procedure.

Spending more time and money on the patient pays off

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:52:36 GMT

There are a number of reports about how many national healthcare dollars are spent on patients who end up dying, but Dr. Peter B. Bach writes for The New York Times that this cost may be worth it.

Cancer risk may double after organ transplants

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:50:16 GMT

A recent study found that people who receive organ transplants in the United States may be twice as likely to develop cancer than people who do not get transplants, USA Today reports.

Evolution, not osteoporosis, to blame for back fractures

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:52:47 GMT

When individuals suffer fractures in their backbones, many blame it on osteoporosis.

Exercise key to knee pain

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:15:09 GMT

Seniors experiencing knee pain or other joint pain caused by arthritis should try to avoid surgery, according to knee and hip surgeon Michael Swank, who is based in Cincinnati.

Surgery is common in seniors at end of life

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:39:49 GMT

The results of a recent study have caused controversy among people who argue over whether medical care at the end of life is overused and is raising costs unnecessarily, The New York Times reports.

New guidelines may decrease joint replacement surgery complications

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:26:49 GMT

An updated guideline released recently by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors may help reduce the incidence of complications following a knee or hip replacement surgery.

Residential washing machines may not kill hospital bacteria

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:11:02 GMT

A recent study found that the water in residential washing machines is not hot enough to kill illness-causing bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter, a Gram-negative bacteria.

Keeping knees healthy without surgery

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:54:28 GMT

Knee replacement surgeries have increased by 100 percent over the past 10 years and are expected to rise to 500 percent by 2030, reflecting the aging population of baby boomers, the Tuscon Citizen reports.

Hip fractures may be particularly dangerous for older women

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:07:01 GMT

Of the 300,000 people who suffer hip fractures each year, women between the ages of 65 and 79, as well as healthy women over age 80, are particularly at risk within a year after the fracture, according to a new study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA/Archives journal.

Scientists reverse aging on stem cells

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:32:36 GMT

A recent study showed that researchers have the capability to turn back the clock on human adult stem cells, which could make it possible to reverse aging on a number of different tissues in the human body.

A new treatment for osteoporosis was reported safe and effective

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:52:12 GMT

Oral recombinant salmon calcitonin tablets were found to be safe and effective for treatment of postmenopausal osetoporosis during a recent trial.

New publications to help seniors deal with pain

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:44:42 GMT

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) announced recently that it is highlighting September as Pain Awareness Month by releasing publications on pain relief and medication for seniors.

Caring for a victim of traumatic brain injury

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:20:53 GMT

Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients may suffer a number of neuropsychological problems that can manifest themselves as strange, odd or upsetting behaviors, the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) reports.

Some antidepressants may cause falls in seniors

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:19:30 GMT

Certain antidepressants may put seniors at a high risk of falling within the first four days of starting it, according to a recent study published in the Journals of Gerontology, AARP reports.

University of Missouri develops new radars to prevent falls

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:08:36 GMT

Two new systems using video game technology and Doppler radar are being developed by University of Missouri (MU) researchers to monitor the behaviors and routines of elderly patients.

Researchers seeking fall prevention technology

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:15:40 GMT

Researchers from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia are working on a portable fall prediction monitoring system to detect the risk of a fall before an accident occurs.

Quality just as important as quantity in bone mass and elderly fractures

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:13:03 GMT

It is no secret that bones become brittle as people age. They lose mass and become more prone to fractures, which is why seniors may suffer from a broken bone more easily than a young adult.

Veterans' caregivers get help from VA

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:29:48 GMT

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will launch a program this month that offers stipends, health insurance, respite care and other services to families who are caring for soldiers injured in Afghanistan or Iraq, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Spider silk may be the answer for artificial skin

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:38:29 GMT

New research shows that spider silk is a compatible material with human skin for making artificial skin, LiveScience reports.

New treatment released for chronic wounds

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:48:36 GMT

More than three million Texans eligible for Medicare will now be able to get chronic wound care covered by their health insurance.

How to keep the home germ-free

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:21:56 GMT

Even if a home caregiver keeps a patient's home in tiptop shape, thousands of germs are still hiding in unknown places, which could cause illness, AARP reports. For those suffering from a chronic disease, wound, or other ailment, such sicknesses can be dangerous.

Giffords' move is shining example of the benefits of home healthcare

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:25:52 GMT

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was transferred home last week to recover from the gunshot wound that she suffered in January.

New bandage aims to smarten up wound care

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:53:11 GMT

Researchers in Australia have developed a bandage that "knows" when a wound gets better or worse, and changes color to alert the patient and his or her home caregiver, according to AFP.