Frailty, a geriatric syndrome, affects 5% to 17% of older adults and is expected to rise alongside rapid growth in the ageing population. Symptoms include generalized weakness, exhaustion, slow gait, poor balance, decreased physical activity, cognitive impairment, and weight loss. Having frailty places an individual at an increased risk of adverse outcomes including falls, hospitalization, [...]

While most individuals don’t consider advance care planning (ACP) until they become quite ill, it shouldn’t take a serious illness to begin thinking about future care and preferred treatment options. Planning ahead and having crucial conversations with family, friends, and caregivers may expand options when a medical emergency arises.  The main idea of ACP is [...]

The liver has many important jobs that are vital to the sustainability of life. It processes what is ingested into energy and nutrients that the body can use. It also removes harmful substances from the blood. Because of its role in keeping the body running, the liver may be damaged by long-term diseases and as [...]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common progressive disease characterized by airflow limitations and persistent respiratory symptoms, including cough and sputum production. The disease is unpredictable and incurable, and for individuals with advanced forms of COPD, the final years of life are often combined with functional decline, frequent visits to the emergency department, and [...]

In 2015, the worldwide prevalence of heart failure (HF) was estimated to be approximately 40 million people. Although the clinical condition of heart failure is sometimes stable for a long time, it may change suddenly. When a person's heart condition worsens, in many cases, they require urgent and intensive care management. In this situation, people [...]

Advance care planning, goals-of-care conversations, clarification of medical prospects, expression of preferences for current and future treatment, promotion of patient autonomy and self-determination – all of these are essential outcomes for palliative care. Palliative care is a multidisciplinary medical specialty that focuses on relieving symptoms of serious illness, reducing stress, enhancing coping, and improving quality [...]

While stroke has been moved from the third to the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, thanks to recent advances in prevention and treatment, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), stroke survivors still face increased rates of post-stroke illness. The AHA states that a high rate of stroke recurrence is an important [...]

September is Healthy Aging Month, which gives focus on the positive aspects of growing older. Experts believe the number of older adults in the U.S. will reach nearly 71 million by 2030, By 2060, 1 in 4 Americans will be age 65 or older. According to data compiled by AARP, this expanding older adult population [...]