Health-services utilisation amongst older persons during the last year of life: a population-based study.

Background: Accurate population-based data regarding hospital-based care utilisation by older persons during their last year of life are important in health services planning. We investigated patterns of acute hospital-based service use at the end of life, amongst older decedents in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods: Data from all persons aged ≥70 years who died in the state of NSW Australia in 2007 were included.

Oral Health Status Is Associated with Common Medical Comorbidities in Older Hospital Inpatients.

Objectives: To investigate oral health status and abnormalities in older adults admitted acutely to the hospital and explore the association with common medical comorbidities.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Hospital.

Sensory impairment, use of community support services, and quality of life in aged care clients.

Objective: To assess influences from visual or hearing impairment on use of community support services and health-related quality of life in aged care clients.

Method: The authors sampled 284 frail elderly individuals presenting for assessment in Sydney, Australia. Moderate to severe visual impairment was defined as visual acuity <20/80 (better eye), and moderate to severe hearing loss as hearing thresholds >40 decibels (better ear).

Are sensory and cognitive declines associated in older persons seeking aged care services? Findings from a pilot study.

Introduction: To assess the association between sensory and cognitive function, and the potential influence of visual function on cognitive function assessment, in a sample of clients accessing aged care services.

Materials And Methods: We recruited 260 non-institutionalised, frail, older individuals who sought aged care services. Visual acuity was assessed using a LogMAR chart and hearing function was measured using a portable pure-tone air conduction audiometer.

Cerebral nocardiosis characterized by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo.

We describe a patient with multiple cerebral lesions that initially were believed to be tumor metastases but were later found to be caused by Nocardia asteroides, after magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings suggested that the lesions were infective in origin. This case report demonstrates the ability of MRS, a noninvasive imaging modality, to aid in the diagnosis of brain infection.