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The dictionary defines ageism as the "tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment." But research indicates that ageism may not just be ill-informed or hurtful. It may also be a matter of life and death. Not that it's literally killing people. Researcher Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health, says it depends on how much a given individual takes those negative ideas to heart. In one study, Levy looked at people's attitudes about aging when they were in late middle age and then followed them over time. [...]

Cathleen Schine, author of They May Not Mean To, says that living far away from an elderly parent can create feelings of guilt as well as those of relief. Click here to read NPR Fresh Air interview with Catherine Schine, air date July 18, 2016.  

Alzheimer’s disease may affect people’s ability to recognize when they are in pain, a new study shows. Undetected pain may allow underlying health issues to go untreated, leading to serious complications, such as organ damage, researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville cautioned. For the three-year study, the researchers tested two groups of adults who were aged 65 or older. One group was made up of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which affects thinking skills, memory and intellect. Members of the second group did not have the progressive neurological disease. The study used a device to subject participants to different heat sensations [...]

Pain Matters, a documentary produced by the Discovery Channel, chronicles the lives of people affected by chronic pain and their loved ones. Throughout the film, participants shared personal details on how living with chronic pain has affected their ability to take part in activities and even its impact on their relationships. According to Paul Christo, MD, MBA, "This documentary offers an uplifting overview of the journeys of people dealing with a variety of chronic pain conditions and how they have managed their pain."   Watch Pain Matters Saturday, November 16th at 8 AM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel.

In the Journal of Pain Management Nursing, authors examined the association between pain intensity and health-related quality of life in ethnically diverse older adults. The study sample consisted of older adults with chronic pain from four ethnic groups (African Americans, Afro Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans). The study found that African Americans reported the highest levels of pain intensity and the lowest mental and physical health scores. The authors suggest that understanding ethnic variations in pain intensity may address gaps in knowledge about health-related quality of life disparities. In addition, the authors suggest that healthcare providers should consider ethnic norms [...]

In the Journal of Applied Clinical Informatics, authors examined the impact of a smartphone application on elderlies’ lives. The smartphone application, ‘Confidence’ aims to provide support to elderly people by helping them stay independent and active. The study sample consisted of 41 individuals and their quality of life was assessed by questionnaires before and after the test period. The study found that the use of ‘Confidence’ made the study participants feel “safer” and helped communicate more with others. Authors suggest that ‘Confidence’ has the potential to have a positive effect on elderly users’ lives.

A recent study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, examined the effect of daily negative and positive mood on the sleep quality of older adults with knee osteoarthritis. The authors derived data from a previous related study that involved older adults with knee osteoarthritis and their partners. The study found that “daily negative and positive mood fluctuations can interact with partner responses to affect sleep quality among older adults with chronic pain.” Click here to read the full article.

A recent study published in the Pain Management Nursing journal evaluated the performance of self-reported pain, nurse-reported pain, and observational pain tools among older patients with cognitive impairment using a prospective observational design. The authors conducted the study within an acute geriatric ward located in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study found that “the use of an observational pain scale could help in clinical assessment when cognitive impairment is present and the older individual is unable to self-report pain.” In addition, the authors found that the use of different pain assessment methods in patients with advanced dementia should [...]

Many older adults are involved in motor vehicle crashes are severely injured and often remain in pain for months afterwards. According to a recent study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine journal, older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) after a motor vehicle crash, experience persistent pain, which is associated with functional decline and disability. The authors concluded that due to their findings, clinicians might have to “identify high-risk patients at the time of ED evaluation and initiate therapies to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain.” Click here to read the full article.

We are thrilled to have hosted our TRIPLL conference “Advancing Pain Care through Behavior Change Science & Mobile Health Technologies” on May 1, 2015 in New York City. The conference focused on opportunities to leverage new knowledge about the science of behavior change and emerging new media technologies to address the management of later life pain. Copies of the conference presentations can be accessed by clicking on the links below: Fostering Resilience to Chronic Pain through the Humanization of Social Relations by Alex Zautra, PhD The Use of Mobile Health in Delivering Chronic Pain Management Interventions by Pamara Chang, BA Decision [...]