A study from Oregon State University (OSU) found that dentists' prescription of opioid analgesics to older patients currently taking medication for depression or anxiety elevates their risk of emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalization, reports KTVZ . "There is this unfortunate opportunity for dentists to prescribe opioids for any acute or chronic pain that the older adult is having, and it may actually pose dangerous interactions for those other medications they're on and place them at greater risk of 30-day ER visits and cause hospitalizations," warned OSU Professor Jessina McGregor. The authors analyzed dental and medical data for 40,800 persons 65 and older across the United States from 2011 to 2015. Ten percent of those who were prescribed opioids by their dentist were also taking drugs that should not be taken with opioids, and were subsequently 23 percent more likely to visit the emergency department or require hospitalization within 30 days of the appointment where they received the opioid prescription. Those whose opioid prescriptions that overlapped with their current non-compatible medication for more than three days were 47 percent more likely to need acute medical care than those who were not on an unhealthy combination of drugs. These findings suggest dentists should be better integrated into electronic health records and healthcare systems in order to access patient records, and that patients should be more cognizant of the dangers of combining prescriptions and the importance of providing an accurate medication history.

Miami-based startup Papa has raised an additional $18 million in capital as it aims to grow its business connecting U.S. seniors' families with physical and virtual companions, or "pals," reports TechCrunch . Papa CEO Andrew Parker said Papa's services are already available in 17 states and the business will expand to four more in the next few months. Forms of companionship Papa's employees offer run the gamut from helping with everyday tasks to simple conversation. Parker said Papa's services are more necessary than ever because of the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding "we're honored to be able to offer solutions to help families during this difficult time." Papa's pals are rigorously vetted, and only about 8 percent of applicants make the cut; they earn an hourly rate of around $15 and have the opportunity to earn bonuses and other incentives. Pals also are now available for virtual and in-person sessions with the seniors they are matched with. Papa monitors and manages all virtual interactions between employees and their charges, citing problems that may be raised in discussions, like depression and potential difficulties accessing food or medications. Papa has raised $31 million to date and expects to be operating in all 50 states by next January.

GrandPad has launched an e-commerce website to offer individuals and families more options for purchasing the product for themselves or a loved one, including directly through the company, reports the Orange County Breeze . "Families who are interested in buying GrandPad for a loved one during the upcoming holiday season, or simply to remain connected during flu season and continued COVID-19 concerns, can still do so through our distribution partners like Consumer Cellular and TechSilver, but now they can also purchase direct through GrandPad in a few simple steps," said GrandPad CEO Scott Lien. Among the GrandPad platform's features is built-in LTE, a closed network for more security, secure Internet browsing, video and voice calling, easy-to-use voice-enabled texting and e-mailing, and family photo and video sharing. Other GrandPad offerings include curated entertainment content and brain games, streaming radio, transportation by Lyft app, and 24-hour personal support.

A U.S. National Institute on Aging -funded study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggests that obesity may tie into a higher risk for developing dementia. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, as it generally can be offset via lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Investigators examined a group of participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging who were at least 50 years old when enrolled. Baseline measurements, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, were recorded upon enrollment, and participants were followed up on average 11 years later to determine whether they had developed dementia. Those with a BMI corresponding with overweight or obese were more likely to develop dementia, correlating with previous findings indicating that obesity is a risk factor. The researchers also learned that abdominal obesity at baseline is a risk factor that impacts women more than men, while the connection between obesity and dementia was independent of whether a person was a smoker, had hypertension or diabetes, or carried the APOE e4 gene — a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Doctors are strongly advising people to get flu vaccinations this year, with coronavirus being an added concern in the months ahead, reports Channel 3000 . Pharmacists in Wisconsin say older adults, a high-risk group which can require special high-dose inoculations, may not be able to get a flu shot immediately because of low reserves. "At this point we're like yeah, we have it, yeah, we don't have it, we may have it . . . just check with us before you come in," said Forward Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Matthew Mabie. Pharmacists noted that while they order their vaccines in February, larger chains usually get shipments faster than small independent suppliers. "What we see on an annual basis regardless of COVID is that our competitor pharmacies . . . seem to receive the vaccine in August," said Fitchburg Family Pharmacy owner Thad Schumacher. "What's interesting is they push for that vaccine be given even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that you wait until mid-September or even October to get the vaccine." However, pharmacists concurred that the flu shot is very important this year in order to lower the possibility of having coronavirus and the flu simultaneously.

An observational study presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggests that the risk of vascular dementia is most pronounced among individuals with type 2 diabetes, reports EurekAlert . Those individuals were 36 percent more likely to develop vascular dementia and 9 percent more likely to be diagnosed with non-vascular dementia versus non-diabetics. Meanwhile, the risk of Alzheimer's disease was not higher in persons with type 2 diabetes. In comparison with type 2 diabetes patients with well controlled blood sugar, those with poor blood sugar control had nearly twice the risk of developing vascular dementia. "A 36 percent higher risk is in itself an argument for preventive measures such as healthier lifestyle," explains Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow. "Diabetes and dementia share certain risk factors that might contribute to these associations including obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. The importance of prevention is underscored by the fact that, for the majority of dementia diseases, there is no good treatment." The study authors stress that while the relative risk of vascular dementia rises with type 2 diabetes, the absolute risk increase is low.

Organizers at the Mulberry Gardens Assisted Living community in Munroe Falls, Ohio, are offering residents some relief from the social strictures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up fish-loaded "ponds" in their parking lot, reports WKYC-TV . The setup allows seniors to fish in controlled conditions, reliving pleasant memories of days gone by. "Even in the months to come, no matter how hard it gets, this is something that's really going to hold them together and bring them through that," said Mulberry Gardens Activities Director Sara Booker.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found middle-aged Americans are living with more physical pain than older adults, according to U.S. News & World Report . Relatively less-educated people appear to be reporting more pain in middle age. Researchers led by Princeton University Professor Anne Case suspect the causes may be connected to various social variables that affect younger generations without a college degree — declining wages, job instability, fewer social links, less marriage, and more divorce. Case thinks daily stress and poor mental well-being can exacerbate physical pain. The investigators analyzed responses to several U.S. and international health surveys, including Gallup polls done between 2008 and 2017, and the National Health Interview Survey for 1997 to 2018. Subjects reported the most pain in middle age, with a decline beginning around age 60. Among Americans with a bachelor's degree, fewer people reported pain at any age, while pain became more common the older one got. In reviewing the study, David Dickerson with the American Society of Anesthesiologists said the findings highlight pain as an expanding problem among Americans — and future trends do not augur well while the current pandemic could make things worse.

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is calling on caregivers and older New Yorkers to familiarize themselves with the early warning signs of sepsis, reports WWTI News 10 . The office says caregivers and older adults, particularly those with chronic ailments or an impaired immune system, should be aware of the symptoms, obtain immediate treatment, and learn infection-preventing strategies. "Simple precautions, like frequent handwashing and getting recommended vaccinations can prevent the underlying illnesses that often lead to sepsis," said NYSOFA Acting Director Greg Olsen. "If an infection does set in, it must be treated as quickly and effectively as possible." Sepsis symptoms among adults include a change in body temperature, either a fever above 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit or a temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit; a heart rate higher than 90 beats per minute; rapid breathing above 20 breaths per minute; and tremors and confusion, which may be more common among older adults.

A study from Australian National University published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that lifestyle modifications may help to improve cognition in older adults experiencing a cognitive decline that foreshadows dementia, reports The Statesman . Investigators randomized 119 individuals older than 65 and experiencing cognitive decline to a control group or an intervention cohort for eight weeks. Controls received online information related to dementia and lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. Subjects were told to implement this information into their own lifestyles, while the intervention group received the same online information, as well as active components to help with implementation — dietitian sessions, an exercise physiologist session, and online brain training. During six months of follow-up, participants in the intervention group were able to improve their lifestyle and had higher cognition scores than the controls. "Results support the hypothesis that improvements in lifestyle risk factors for dementia can lead to improvements in cognition over a short time frame with a population experiencing cognitive decline," the authors wrote. "Outcomes from this trial support the conduct of a larger and longer trial with this participant group."