The Detrimental Effects of Bedrest: Premature Cardiovascular Aging and Dysfunction.

Bedrest as an experimental paradigm or as an in-patient stay for medical reasons has negative consequences for cardiovascular health. The effects of severe inactivity parallel many of the changes experienced with natural aging but over a much shorter duration. Cardiac function is reduced, arteries stiffen, neural reflex responses are impaired, and metabolic and oxidative stress responses impose burden on the heart and vascular systems.

Prospective validation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for identifying malnutrition in hospitals: A protocol and feasibility pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was to pilot a protocol for prospective validation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in hospital patients and evaluate its feasibility and patient acceptability.

Methods: The validation protocol follows the GLIM consortium's rigorous methodological guidance. Protocol feasibility was assessed against criteria on recruitment (≥50%) and data collection completion (≥80%); protocol acceptability was assessed via patient satisfaction surveys and interviews.

Social Factors Associated With Nutrition Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in High-Income Countries: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: In high-income countries (HICs), between 65% and 70% of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older are at high nutrition risk. Nutrition risk is the risk of poor dietary intake and nutritional status. Consequences of high nutrition risk include frailty, hospitalization, death, and reduced quality of life.

Moving forward with dementia: an explorative cross-country qualitative study into post-diagnostic experiences.

Objectives: This explorative cross-country qualitative study aims to describe experiences of receiving a dementia diagnosis and experiences of support following a diagnosis in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Poland.

Method: Qualitative study using projective techniques during online focus groups, online and telephone interviews with people with dementia and caregivers.

Results: Twenty-three people with dementia and 53 caregivers participated.

Characteristics Associated with Relationship-Centred and Task-Focused Mealtime Practices in Older Adult Care Settings.

To assess care home and staff characteristics associated with task-focused (TF) and relationship-centred care (RCC) mealtime practices prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff working in Canadian and American care homes were invited to complete a 23-item online survey assessing their perceptions of mealtime care, with one item assessing 26 potential care practices from the Mealtime Relational Care Checklist (relationship-centred = 15; task-focused = 11) reported to occur in the home prior to the pandemic. Multivariate linear regression evaluated staff and care home characteristics associated with mealtime practices.

Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation and Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke.

Background: The relationship between dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. Previous studies are limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneity.

Methods: We performed a 1-stage individual patient data meta-analysis to investigate associations between dCA and functional outcome after AIS.

Factors associated with dietitian referrals to support long-term care residents advancing towards the end of life.

Background: Dietitians are central members of the multidisciplinary long-term care (LTC) healthcare team. The overall aim of this current investigation is to gain a better understanding of dietitian involvement in LTC resident's end-of-life care via referrals.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews for 164 deceased residents (mean age = 88.

Timely Yet Long Overdue: Canadian Standards for Long-Term Care Homes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted systemic problems in Canadian long-term care (LTC). While high mortality rates in LTC received significant attention, the pandemic also took an enormous toll on mental health of LTC residents, where mental health conditions, including cognitive disorders, are already much higher than in other community settings. The pandemic resulted in a renewed interest in improving quality of care in LTC and led to the recent development of several National Standards of Canada.

Retrospective Analysis of Circumstances of Falls and Related Injuries across Levels of Care in Older Adult Retirement Home Facilities.

Towards developing more effective interventions for fall-related injuries, this study analysed a novel database from six retirement home facilities over a 4-year period comprising 1,877 fallers and 12,445 falls. Falls were characterized based on location, activity, injury site, and type, and the database was stratified across four levels of care: Independent Living, Retirement Care, Assisted Care, and Memory care. Falls most occurred within the bedroom (62.

Empowering Ontario's long-term care residents to shape the place they call home: a codesign protocol.

Background: Canada's long-term care (LTC) homes were founded on an institutional model that viewed residents as passive recipients of care. Many homes continue to follow this model leaving residents removed from operational decision-making within their homes. However, involving residents in the design of their LTC home's environment, programmes and operations can improve the residents' quality of life and other outcomes.

Co-designing action-oriented mental health conversations between care providers and ageing Canadians in the community: a participatory mixed-methods study protocol.

Introduction: The mental health of ageing Canadians is a growing concern, particularly post-pandemic. Older adults face systemic ageism and mental health stigma as pervasive barriers to seeking needed mental health support, care and treatment within health and social care systems. These barriers are exacerbated when service providers focus on physical healthcare needs or lack the skills and confidence to talk about and/or address mental health during routine visits.

Resident-, family-, and staff-identified goals for rehabilitation of long-term care residents with dementia: a qualitative study.

Background: Long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia can benefit from rehabilitation to improve function and quality of life. However, specific goals for rehabilitation with this population are not always clear. The purpose of this study was to describe the goals for rehabilitation for LTC residents with dementia from the perspective of residents, family, and staff.

Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise Toolkit: Impact on the Knowledge, Perspectives, and Practices of Exercise Providers.

Physical activity improves the well-being of persons living with dementia but few exercise programs include them. The Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise (DICE) toolkit aims to improve exercise providers' understanding of dementia and ability to support persons living with dementia in physical activity. We evaluated the co-designed DICE toolkit with exercise providers using a mixed-methods approach comprising pre/post questionnaires and interviews and reflection diaries.

Guidance for assessment of the inflammation etiologic criterion for the GLIM diagnosis of malnutrition: A modified Delphi approach.

Background & Aims: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) approach to malnutrition diagnosis is based on assessment of three phenotypic (weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced skeletal muscle mass) and two etiologic (reduced food intake/assimilation and disease burden/inflammation) criteria, with diagnosis confirmed by fulfillment of any combination of at least one phenotypic and at least one etiologic criterion. The original GLIM description provided limited guidance regarding assessment of inflammation and this has been a factor impeding further implementation of the GLIM criteria. We now seek to provide practical guidance for assessment of inflammation in support of the etiologic criterion for inflammation.

Lower body negative pressure identifies altered central vein characteristics without accompanying changes to baroreflexes in astronauts within hours of landing.

Cardiovascular deconditioning and altered baroreflexes predispose returning astronauts to Orthostatic Intolerance. We assessed 7 astronauts (1 female) before and following long-duration spaceflight (146 ± 43 days) with minimal upright posture prior to testing. We applied lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of up to - 30 mmHg to supine astronauts instrumented for continual synchronous measurements of cardiovascular variables, and intermittent imaging the Portal Vein (PV) and Inferior Vena Cava (IVC).

Ambulatory Monitoring of Cerebrovascular Responses to Upright Posture and Walking in Older Adults With Heart Failure.

Background: Insufficient cardiac output in individuals with heart failure (HF) limits daily functioning and reduces quality of life. Although lower cerebral perfusion, secondary to limitations in cardiac output, has been observed during moderate-intensity efforts, individuals with HF also may be at risk for lower perfusion during even low-intensity ambulatory activities.

Methods: We determined whether HF is associated with an altered cerebrovascular response to low-intensity activities representative of typical challenges of daily living.

"Nobody But a Family Member Can Do It Quite the Same Way": Understanding the Meaning of Mealtimes to Residents and Families in Long-Term Care Homes During the Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: Meals in long-term care (LTC) are essential to residents not only for nutrition and their physical well-being but also for their social interactions supporting resident quality of life. This study aims to understand the mealtime experiences of residents and family care partners during the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic when restrictions were put in place in LTC and retirement homes.

Research Design And Methods: Interpretive description analysis of qualitative interviews in LTC and retirement homes, with 17 family care partners and 4 residents.

Prioritizing a research agenda on built environments and physical activity: a twin panel Delphi consensus process with researchers and knowledge users.

Background: The growth of urban dwelling populations globally has led to rapid increases of research and policy initiatives addressing associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA). Given this rapid proliferation, it is important to identify priority areas and research questions for moving the field forward. The objective of this study was to identify and compare research priorities on the built environment and PA among researchers and knowledge users (e.

Economic Evaluation of Exercise or Cognitive and Social Enrichment Activities for Improved Cognition After Stroke.

Importance: Cognitive impairment is prevalent in survivors of stroke, affecting approximately 30% of individuals. Physical exercise and cognitive and social enrichment activities can enhance cognitive function in patients with chronic stroke, but their cost-effectiveness compared with a balance and tone program is uncertain.

Objective: To conduct a cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis of multicomponent exercise or cognitive and social enrichment activities compared with a balance and tone program.

Medication Reviews and Clinical Outcomes in Persons with Dementia: A Scoping Review.

Persons diagnosed with dementia are often faced with challenges related to polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use and could benefit from regular medication reviews. However, the benefit of such reviews has not been examined in this population. Therefore, the current scoping review was designed to identify the gaps in the current knowledge regarding the impact of medication reviews on the clinical outcomes in older adults with dementia.

Supporting the "hallway residents": a qualitative descriptive study of staff perspectives on implementing the Namaste Care intervention in long-term care.

Background: Long-term care (LTC) settings are becoming home to an increasing number of people living with advanced or late-stage dementia. Residents living with advanced dementia represent some of society's most vulnerable and socially excluded populations and are thus at an increased risk of social isolation. A multisensory intervention tailored to this population, Namaste Care, has been developed to improve quality of life for residents living with advanced dementia in LTC homes.