The dementia care study (D-CARE): Recruitment strategies and demographic characteristics of participants in a pragmatic randomized trial of dementia care.

Introduction: Pragmatic research studies that include diverse dyads of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers are rare.

Methods: Community-dwelling dyads were recruited for a pragmatic clinical trial evaluating three approaches to dementia care. Four clinical trial sites used shared and site-specific recruitment strategies to enroll health system patients.

Feasibility of a 4-Week Manual Therapy and Exercise Intervention on Posture and Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Background And Purpose: Thoracic hyperkyphosis is a common condition that progresses with aging and has been associated with impaired functional performance, increased risk of falls, and even mortality. Previous studies to improve posture primarily used exercise for durations of 3 months or longer. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of a manual therapy intervention in community-dwelling older adults over a 4-week time frame that is comparable to the typical clinical setting, to test the appropriateness and procedures for the measurement of posture and function in the older population with hyperkyphosis, and to collect preliminary data to describe change in posture and function measures.

D-CARE: The Dementia Care Study: Design of a Pragmatic Trial of the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Health System-Based Versus Community-Based Dementia Care Versus Usual Dementia Care.

Background/objectives: Although several approaches have been developed to provide comprehensive care for persons living with dementia (PWD) and their family or friend caregivers, the relative effectiveness and cost effectiveness of community-based dementia care (CBDC) versus health system-based dementia care (CBDC) and the effectiveness of both approaches compared with usual care (UC) are unknown.

Design: Pragmatic randomized three-arm superiority trial. The unit of randomization is the PWD/caregiver dyad.

Pain-Reducing Effects of Physical Therapist-Delivered Interventions: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Among Older Adults With Dementia.

Background And Purpose: Pain is common among older adults with dementia. There are nonpharmacological options for managing pain in this population. However, the effects of physical therapist-delivered interventions have not been summarized.

Hospital Readmission Following Discharge From Inpatient Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Debility.

Background: Debility accounts for 10% of inpatient rehabilitation cases among Medicare beneficiaries. Debility has the highest 30-day readmission rate among 6 impairment groups most commonly admitted to inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine rates, temporal distribution, and factors associated with hospital readmission for patients with debility up to 90 days following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

The Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation: report of patients with debility discharged from inpatient rehabilitation programs in 2000-2010.

Objective: Benchmark data are provided for a national sample of patients who received inpatient rehabilitation for debility.

Design: Patients with debility from 830 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States contributing to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation from 2000 to 2010 were examined. Demographic information (age, marital status, sex, race/ethnicity, prehospital living setting, and discharge setting), hospital information (length of stay, program interruptions, payer, and codes for admitting diagnosis), and functional status (Functional Independence Measure [FIM] instrument ratings at admission and discharge, FIM change, and FIM efficiency) were analyzed.

Pilot study examining the association between ambulatory activity and falls among hospitalized older adults.

Objective: To examine the ambulatory activity of older patients who had a documented fall during hospitalization for acute illness.

Design: A retrospective case-control design was used in a pilot study of patients (n=10; ≥65y) who had a documented fall during their hospital stay and matched controls (n=25) who did not fall.

Setting: Acute care medical/surgical unit.

Screening practices of patients presenting for resection of a colorectal neoplasm.

Multiple studies demonstrate the efficacy of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in patients over 50 years of age. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding which screening method to use, and compliance has been poor. The objective of this study was to identify the CRC screening practices at two institutions and determine the relationship between screening and pathologic stage for patients presenting with a colorectal neoplasm.