Geriatrics
Canadian Geriatrics Society
Last updated: April 2025
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Cohort studies have found no adverse outcomes for older men or women associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Antimicrobial treatment studies for asymptomatic bacteriuria in older adults demonstrate no benefits and show increased adverse antimicrobial effects. Consensus criteria has been developed to characterize the specific clinical symptoms that, when associated with bacteriuria, define urinary tract infection. Screening for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is recommended before urologic procedures for which mucosal bleeding is anticipated.
Sources:
Abrutyn E, et al. Does asymptomatic bacteriuria predict mortality and does antimicrobial treatment reduce mortality in elderly ambulatory women? Ann Intern Med. 1994 May 15;120(10):827-33. PMID: 7818631.
Nicolle LE. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1997 Sep;11(3):647-62. PMID: 9378928.
Nicolle LE, et al. Infectious diseases society of America guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2005 Mar 1;40(5):643-54. PMID: 15714408.
Nordenstam GR, et al. Bacteriuria and mortality in an elderly population. N Engl J Med. 1986 May 1;314(18):1152-6. PMID: 3960089.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Older People: When you need them and when you don’t
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Large scale studies consistently show that the risk of motor vehicle accidents, falls and hip fractures leading to hospitalization and death can more than double in older adults taking benzodiazepines and other sedative-hypnotics. The number needed to treat with a sedative-hypnotic for improved sleep is 13, whereas the number needed to harm is only 6. Older patients, their caregivers and their health care providers should recognize these potential harms when considering treatment strategies for insomnia, agitation or delirium. Use of benzodiazepines should be reserved for alcohol withdrawal symptoms/delirium tremens or severe generalized anxiety disorder unresponsive to other therapies. Prescribing or discontinuing sedative-hypnotics in hospital can have substantial impact on long-term use. Cognitive behavioural therapy, brief behavioural interventions and benzodiazepine-tapering protocols have proven benefit in sedative-hypnotic discontinuation. These non-pharmacologic interventions are also beneficial in improving sleep.
Sources:
Allain H, et al. Postural instability and consequent falls and hip fractures associated with use of hypnotics in the elderly: A comparative review. Drugs Aging. 2005;22(9):749-65. PMID: 16156679.
American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Apr;60(4):616-31. PMID: 22376048.
Finkle WD, et al. Risk of fractures requiring hospitalization after an initial prescription for zolpidem, alprazolam, lorazepam, or diazepam in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Oct;59(10):1883-90. PMID: 22091502.
McMillan JM, et al. Management of insomnia and long-term use of sedative-hypnotic drugs in older patients. CMAJ. 2013 Nov 19;185(17):1499-505. PMID: 24062170.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Insomnia and Anxiety in Older People – Sleeping pills are usually not the best solution
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Careful hand-feeding for patients with severe dementia is at least as good as tube-feeding for the outcomes of death, aspiration pneumonia, functional status and patient comfort. Food is the preferred nutrient. Use of oral nutritional supplements may be beneficial. Tube-feeding is associated with agitation, increased use of physical and chemical restraints and worsening pressure ulcers.
Sources:
Allen VJ, et al. Use of nutritional complete supplements in older adults with dementia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes. Clin Nutr. 2013 Dec;32(6):950-7. PMID: 23591150.
Finucane TE, et al. Tube feeding in patients with advanced dementia: A review of the evidence. JAMA. 1999 Oct 13;282(14):1365-70. PMID: 10527184.
Gabriel SE, et al. Getting the methods right–the foundation of patient-centered outcomes research. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 30;367(9):787-90. PMID: 22830434.
Hanson LC, et al. Improving decision-making for feeding options in advanced dementia: A randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Nov;59(11):2009-16. PMID: 22091750.
Palecek EJ, et al. Comfort feeding only: A proposal to bring clarity to decision-making regarding difficulty with eating for persons with advanced dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Mar;58(3):580-4. PMID: 20398123.
Teno JM, et al. Decision-making and outcomes of feeding tube insertion: A five-state study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 May;59(5):881-6. PMID: 21539524.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Feeding Tubes for People with Alzheimer’s Disease: When you need them and when you don’t
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People with dementia often exhibit aggression, resistance to care and other challenging or disruptive behaviours. In such instances, antipsychotic medicines are often prescribed, but they provide limited benefit and can cause serious harm, including premature death. Use of these drugs should be limited to cases where non-pharmacologic measures have failed and patients pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. Identifying and addressing causes of behaviour change can make drug treatment unnecessary.
Sources:
Brodaty H, et al. Meta-analysis of nonpharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. Am J Psychiatry. 2012 Sep;169(9):946-53. PMID: 22952073.
Gill SS, et al. Antipsychotic drug use and mortality in older adults with dementia. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Jun 5;146(11):775-86. PMID: 17548409.
Gill SS, et al. Atypical antipsychotic drugs and risk of ischaemic stroke: Population based retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 2005 Feb 26;330(7489):445. PMID: 15668211.
Joller P, et al. Approach to inappropriate sexual behaviour in people with dementia. Can Fam Physician. 2013 Mar;59(3):255-60. PMID: 23486794.
Lee PE, et al. Atypical antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: Systematic review. BMJ. 2004 Jul 10;329(7457):75. PMID: 15194601.
Rochon PA, et al. Antipsychotic therapy and short-term serious events in older adults with dementia. Arch Intern Med. 2008 May 26;168(10):1090-6. PMID: 18504337.
Schneider LS, et al. Efficacy and adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics for dementia: Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Mar;14(3):191-210. PMID: 16505124.
Seitz DP, et al. Efficacy and feasibility of nonpharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in long term care: A systematic review. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012 Jul;13(6):503,506.e2. PMID: 22342481.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Treating Disruptive Behaviour in People with Dementia: Antipsychotic drugs are usually not the best choice
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There is no evidence that using medications to achieve intense glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes is beneficial (A1c under 7.0%). Among non-older adults, except for long-term reductions in myocardial infarction and mortality with metformin, using medications to achieve glycated haemoglobin levels less than 6 % is associated with harms, including higher mortality rates. Intense control has been consistently shown to produce higher rates of hypoglycemia in older adults. Given the long timeframe (approximately 8 years) to achieve theorized benefits of intense control, glycemic targets should reflect patient goals, health status, and life expectancy. Reasonable glycemic targets would be 7.0 – 7.5% in healthy older adults with long life expectancy, 7.5 – 8.0% in those with moderate comorbidity and a life expectancy < 10 years, and 8.0 – 8.5% in those with multiple morbidities and shorter life expectancy.
Sources:
ACCORD Study Group, et al. Long-term effects of intensive glucose lowering on cardiovascular outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):818-28. PMID: 21366473.
Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Study Group, et al. Effects of intensive glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jun 12;358(24):2545-59. PMID: 18539917.
ADVANCE Collaborative Group, et al. Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jun 12;358(24):2560-72. PMID: 18539916.
Canadian Diabetes Association. 2013 Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes in Canada. Can J Diabetes. 2013 April 1;37:S1-212.
Duckworth W, et al. Glucose control and vascular complications in veterans with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 8;360(2):129-39. PMID: 19092145.
Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). UK prospective diabetes study (UKPDS) group. Lancet. 1998 Sep 12;352(9131):854-65. PMID: 9742977.
Finucane TE. “Tight control” in geriatrics: The emperor wears a thong. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Aug;60(8):1571-5. PMID: 22881447.
Kirkman MS, et al. Diabetes in older adults: A consensus report. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Dec;60(12):2342-56. PMID: 23106132.
Montori VM, et al. Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: Time for an evidence-based about-face? Ann Intern Med. 2009 Jun 2;150(11):803-8. PMID: 19380837.
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Restraints in seniors who are hospitalized with delirium are associated with complications associated with immobilization, such as decubitus ulcer, aspiration pneumonia and injuries which can cause death. Restraints can increase agitation, limit access to food and water such that all attempts should be made to adopt the least restrictive measures possible to manage such patients. Provision of support from family members, volunteers, sitters is advised instead. If agitation is placing the team and patient at risk, adopt the least restrictive measures as per institutional policies.
Sources:
Abraham J, Hirt J, Richter C, Köpke S, Meyer G, Möhler R. Interventions for preventing and reducing the use of physical restraints of older people in general hospital settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD012476. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012476.pub2. PMID: 36004796.
Flaherty JH, Little MO. Matching the environment to patients with delirium: lessons learned from the delirium room, a restraint-free environment for older hospitalized adults with delirium. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Nov;59Suppl 2:S295–300. PMID: 22091576.
Sharifi, A., Arsalani, N., Fallahi-Khoshknab, M. et al. The principles of physical restraint use for hospitalized elderly people: an integrated literature review. Syst Rev 10, 129 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01676-8. PMID: 33931096.
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Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine may be prescribed in several dementia syndromes, but in some circumstances, they do not confer any meaningful benefit, and in other circumstances significant side effects limit their use. Furthermore, their risk to benefit ratio can change with long-term use, and patients stand to benefit from regular reassessment of their indication, side effect profile, and consideration of deprescription. A risk/benefit discussion and trial of deprescription may be considered in patients who were prescribed the drug without an appropriate indication, those whose risks or side effects outweigh the benefits, or patients whose dementia has advanced to a point where there is no appreciable benefit to preserving cognition or functional ability.
Sources:
Birks J. Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD005593. PMID: 16437532.
Buckley JS, Salpeter SR. A risk-benefit assessment of dementia medications: systematic review of the evidence. Drugs Aging 2015; 32: 453– 467. PMID: 25941104.
Courtney C, Farrell D, Gray R, Hills R, Lynch L, Sellwood E, Edwards S, Hardyman W, Raftery J, Crome P, Lendon C, Shaw H, Bentham P; AD2000 Collaborative Group.Long-term donepezil treatment in 565 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD2000): randomized double-blind trial. Lancet. 2004 Jun 26;363(9427):2105–15. PMID: 15220031.
Howard R, McShane R, Lindesay J, Ritchie C, Baldwin A, Barber R, Burns A, Dening T, Findlay D, Holmes C, Hughes A. Donepezil and memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012 Mar 8;366(10):893-903. PMID: 22397651.
Kaduszkiewicz H, Zimmermann T, Beck-Bornholdt HP, van den Bussche H. Cholinesterase inhibitors for patients with Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review of randomized clinical trials.BMJ. 2005 Aug 6;331(7512):321–7. PMID: 16081444.
Reeve E, Farrell B, Thomson W, Herrman N, Sketris I, Magin PJ, Chenoweth L, Gorman M, Quirke L, Bethune G, Hilmer SN. Deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in dementia: guideline summary. Med. J.Aust. 2019 Feb 16; 210: 174-179. PMID: 30771226.
Reeve E, Farrell B, Thompson W, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Sydney: University of Sydney, 2018.
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Older patients disproportionately use more prescription and non-prescription drugs than other populations, increasing the risk for side effects and inappropriate prescribing. Polypharmacy may lead to diminished adherence, adverse drug reactions and increased risk of cognitive impairment, falls and functional decline. Medication review identifies high-risk medications, drug interactions and those continued beyond their indication. Deprescribing offers an opportunity to stop unnecessary medications, optimize doses and reduce medication burden.
Sources:
Farrell B, Mangin D. Deprescribing is an essential part of good prescribing. Am Fam Physician. 2019; 99(1):7-9. PMID: 30600973.
Hajjar ER, Cafiero AC, Hanlon JT. Polypharmacy in elderly patients. Am J Geriatr Pharm. 2007 Dec;5(4):345–51. PMID: 18179993.
Steinman MA, Hanlon JT. Managing medications in clinically complex elders: “There’s got to be a happy medium”. JAMA. 2010 Oct 13;304(14):1592–1601. PMID: 20940385.
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Virtual appointments are a safe, effective, and environmentally friendlier alternative to traditional office visits in many circumstances. Older adults may require assistance with the technology, but virtual appointments can also increase accessibility for frail older adults who may be home-bound or living with severe disability. In 2021, virtual care in Canada contributed to an estimated reduction of 330,000 metric tons of CO2. A study looking at the environmental impact of telemedicine in Ontario estimated that 185 159kg CO2e or 757 234km were avoided by conducting 840 appointments virtually over a 6-month period. Many provinces support equal remuneration between virtual and in-person care.
Sources:
Bartlett S, Keir S. Calculating the carbon footprint of a Geriatric Medicine clinic before and after COVID-19. Age Ageing. 2022 Feb 2;51(2):afab275. PMID: 35134839.
Chuen VL, Dholakia S, Karla S et al. Geriatric Specialists’ Perspectives on telemedicine during the Covid-19 Pandemic: a concurrent triangulation Mixed-Methods Study. Can Geriatr J. 2023 Jun; 26(2):283-289. PMID: 37265985.
Lam K, Lu AD, Shi Y et al. Assessing Telemedicine Unreadiness Among Older Adults in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(10):1389–1391. PMID: 32744593.
Weiss SM, Castelo M, Liu B et al. Virtual fall program assessment for frail Canadian community-dwelling older adults: Examining equitable accessibility. Digit Health. 2023 Jun 7;9:20552076231178410. PMID: 37312948.
Weiss SM, Kalocsai C, Liu B et al. Transitioning Towards a Virtual Falls Prevention Program for Frail Seniors: Learning from the Experiences of Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Can Geriatr J. 2024 Jun. 3;27(2):141-151. PMID: 38827425.
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Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals can negatively impact the environment, including water contamination, threatening aquatic life, increasing antimicrobial resistance, and affecting human growth and reproduction. Discarded pharmaceuticals enter the ecosystem through surface water, groundwater, soil and drinking water. UNESCO has identified pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, beta-blockers, and steroids as Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater. Humans are further impacted by ingesting affected water, plants, meat or fish. Non-returning of pharmaceuticals also risks accidental ingestion by children and pet animals. Ongoing interventions to prevent improper disposal and encourage patients to return unused or expired medications to designated collection sites are key to minimizing the adverse impact on both humans and the environment.
Sources:
Adeel M, Song X, Wang Y et al. Environmental impact of estrogens on human, animal and plant life: A critical review. Environ. Int. 2017; 99, 107–119. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28040262.
Kusturica MP, Jevtic M, Ristovski, JT. Minimizing the environmental impact of unused pharmaceuticals: Review focused on prevention. Front. Environ. Sci. 2022.
United Nations Environment Programme. Emerging Pollutants Wastewater Increasing Threat. 2022. Accessed Sep 12, 2024. [cited 2025 Jan 20]
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Comprehensive geriatric assessment for hospitalized older adults can help inform prognosis and assess degree of frailty. As such, geriatricians play an important role in supporting patients and their caregivers in determining what “matters most” in their care. This includes ensuring that a patient’s personally meaningful health outcomes, goals, and care preferences are reflected in treatment plans. Interventions that generate additional testing and do not align with patient goals produce needless environmental impacts. Ensuring that care setting aligns with a patient’s goals of care can have an important impact on the carbon footprint of a hospital admission. An acute care unit (ward bed) generates 5.5kg of solid waste and 45kg CO2e (218 km by car) per hospital day, as compared to 7.1kg of solid waste and 138 kg CO2e (670 km by car) in an intensive care unit.
Sources:
Avelino-Silva, T.J., Farfel, J.M., Curiati, J.A. et al. Comprehensive geriatric assessment predicts mortality and adverse outcomes in hospitalized older adults. BMC Geriatr 14, 129 (2014). PMID: 25464932.
Health Aging in Foundation. Expert Information from Healthcare Professionals Who Specialize in the Care of Older Adults TIP sheet. [Internet]. 2019. [Cited 2025 Jan 20].
Prasad PA, Joshi D, Lighter J et al. Environmental footprint of regular and intensive inpatient care in a large US hospital. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2022;27(1):38-49.
Tinetti M, Huang A, Molnar F. The Geriatrics 5M’s: A New Way of Communicating What We Do. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Sep;65(9):2115. Epub 2017 Jun 6. PMID: 28586122.
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In geriatric medicine, the premature disposal of adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and canes is commonplace, often occurring before the end of their useful lifespans. Efforts to reuse and recycle equipment are not widely publicized, and most patients and families are unaware of existing programs. The recycling of this equipment keeps them out of landfills. Beyond this environmental benefit, reuse increases access to vital equipment that other patients may otherwise struggle to afford or obtain.
Sources:
Canadian Red Cross. Health Equipment Donations [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Jan 20].
Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes. Goodwill Mobility [Internet]. 2025. [cited 2025 Jan 20].
Nova Scotia Canada. Wheelchair Recycling [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2025 Jan 20].
Stride Wheelchair Plus Recycling Depot. Stride Wheelchair Plus [Internet]. [cited 2025 Jan 20].
The Toronto Star. Recycling Wheelchairs Medical Devices Proves Challenging but Red Cross Can Help [Internet]. 2012 Aug. 17 [cited 2025 Jan 20].
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The Canadian Geriatrics Society (CGS) established its Choosing Wisely Canada Top 5 recommendations by first establishing a small group of its Council members and Committee chairs to evaluate the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Choosing Wisely® list. Feeling confident that the AGS recommendations reflected geriatric care in Canada, the list was presented to the CGS executive. After initial review by the CGS executive, each topic was reviewed in detail by selected Canadian geriatricians and other specialists with the relevant research and clinical expertise. This process was undertaken to ensure the recommendations and background information for each topic were valid and relevant for Canadian patients and our health care system. Ultimately, all five items were adopted with permission from the Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question, © 2012 American Geriatrics Society.
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Choosing Wisely Canada’s climate-conscious recommendations are developed by clinician societies to improve planetary health without compromising patient care. These recommendations highlight everyday practices we can reduce or eliminate to minimize environmental harm. Visit our climate page to explore all the recommendations and learn more.
Sources:
Abrutyn E, et al. Does asymptomatic bacteriuria predict mortality and does antimicrobial treatment reduce mortality in elderly ambulatory women? Ann Intern Med. 1994 May 15;120(10):827-33. PMID: 7818631.
Nicolle LE. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1997 Sep;11(3):647-62. PMID: 9378928.
Nicolle LE, et al. Infectious diseases society of America guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2005 Mar 1;40(5):643-54. PMID: 15714408.
Nordenstam GR, et al. Bacteriuria and mortality in an elderly population. N Engl J Med. 1986 May 1;314(18):1152-6. PMID: 3960089.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Older People: When you need them and when you don’t
Allain H, et al. Postural instability and consequent falls and hip fractures associated with use of hypnotics in the elderly: A comparative review. Drugs Aging. 2005;22(9):749-65. PMID: 16156679.
American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Apr;60(4):616-31. PMID: 22376048.
Finkle WD, et al. Risk of fractures requiring hospitalization after an initial prescription for zolpidem, alprazolam, lorazepam, or diazepam in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Oct;59(10):1883-90. PMID: 22091502.
McMillan JM, et al. Management of insomnia and long-term use of sedative-hypnotic drugs in older patients. CMAJ. 2013 Nov 19;185(17):1499-505. PMID: 24062170.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Insomnia and Anxiety in Older People – Sleeping pills are usually not the best solution
Allen VJ, et al. Use of nutritional complete supplements in older adults with dementia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes. Clin Nutr. 2013 Dec;32(6):950-7. PMID: 23591150.
Finucane TE, et al. Tube feeding in patients with advanced dementia: A review of the evidence. JAMA. 1999 Oct 13;282(14):1365-70. PMID: 10527184.
Gabriel SE, et al. Getting the methods right–the foundation of patient-centered outcomes research. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 30;367(9):787-90. PMID: 22830434.
Hanson LC, et al. Improving decision-making for feeding options in advanced dementia: A randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Nov;59(11):2009-16. PMID: 22091750.
Palecek EJ, et al. Comfort feeding only: A proposal to bring clarity to decision-making regarding difficulty with eating for persons with advanced dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Mar;58(3):580-4. PMID: 20398123.
Teno JM, et al. Decision-making and outcomes of feeding tube insertion: A five-state study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 May;59(5):881-6. PMID: 21539524.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Feeding Tubes for People with Alzheimer’s Disease: When you need them and when you don’t
Brodaty H, et al. Meta-analysis of nonpharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. Am J Psychiatry. 2012 Sep;169(9):946-53. PMID: 22952073.
Gill SS, et al. Antipsychotic drug use and mortality in older adults with dementia. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Jun 5;146(11):775-86. PMID: 17548409.
Gill SS, et al. Atypical antipsychotic drugs and risk of ischaemic stroke: Population based retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 2005 Feb 26;330(7489):445. PMID: 15668211.
Joller P, et al. Approach to inappropriate sexual behaviour in people with dementia. Can Fam Physician. 2013 Mar;59(3):255-60. PMID: 23486794.
Lee PE, et al. Atypical antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: Systematic review. BMJ. 2004 Jul 10;329(7457):75. PMID: 15194601.
Rochon PA, et al. Antipsychotic therapy and short-term serious events in older adults with dementia. Arch Intern Med. 2008 May 26;168(10):1090-6. PMID: 18504337.
Schneider LS, et al. Efficacy and adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics for dementia: Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Mar;14(3):191-210. PMID: 16505124.
Seitz DP, et al. Efficacy and feasibility of nonpharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in long term care: A systematic review. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012 Jul;13(6):503,506.e2. PMID: 22342481.
Related Resources:
Patient Pamphlet: Treating Disruptive Behaviour in People with Dementia: Antipsychotic drugs are usually not the best choice
ACCORD Study Group, et al. Long-term effects of intensive glucose lowering on cardiovascular outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):818-28. PMID: 21366473.
Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Study Group, et al. Effects of intensive glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jun 12;358(24):2545-59. PMID: 18539917.
ADVANCE Collaborative Group, et al. Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jun 12;358(24):2560-72. PMID: 18539916.
Canadian Diabetes Association. 2013 Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes in Canada. Can J Diabetes. 2013 April 1;37:S1-212.
Duckworth W, et al. Glucose control and vascular complications in veterans with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 8;360(2):129-39. PMID: 19092145.
Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). UK prospective diabetes study (UKPDS) group. Lancet. 1998 Sep 12;352(9131):854-65. PMID: 9742977.
Finucane TE. “Tight control” in geriatrics: The emperor wears a thong. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Aug;60(8):1571-5. PMID: 22881447.
Kirkman MS, et al. Diabetes in older adults: A consensus report. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Dec;60(12):2342-56. PMID: 23106132.
Montori VM, et al. Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: Time for an evidence-based about-face? Ann Intern Med. 2009 Jun 2;150(11):803-8. PMID: 19380837.
Abraham J, Hirt J, Richter C, Köpke S, Meyer G, Möhler R. Interventions for preventing and reducing the use of physical restraints of older people in general hospital settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD012476. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012476.pub2. PMID: 36004796.
Flaherty JH, Little MO. Matching the environment to patients with delirium: lessons learned from the delirium room, a restraint-free environment for older hospitalized adults with delirium. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Nov;59Suppl 2:S295–300. PMID: 22091576.
Sharifi, A., Arsalani, N., Fallahi-Khoshknab, M. et al. The principles of physical restraint use for hospitalized elderly people: an integrated literature review. Syst Rev 10, 129 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01676-8. PMID: 33931096.
Birks J. Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD005593. PMID: 16437532.
Buckley JS, Salpeter SR. A risk-benefit assessment of dementia medications: systematic review of the evidence. Drugs Aging 2015; 32: 453– 467. PMID: 25941104.
Courtney C, Farrell D, Gray R, Hills R, Lynch L, Sellwood E, Edwards S, Hardyman W, Raftery J, Crome P, Lendon C, Shaw H, Bentham P; AD2000 Collaborative Group.Long-term donepezil treatment in 565 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD2000): randomized double-blind trial. Lancet. 2004 Jun 26;363(9427):2105–15. PMID: 15220031.
Howard R, McShane R, Lindesay J, Ritchie C, Baldwin A, Barber R, Burns A, Dening T, Findlay D, Holmes C, Hughes A. Donepezil and memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012 Mar 8;366(10):893-903. PMID: 22397651.
Kaduszkiewicz H, Zimmermann T, Beck-Bornholdt HP, van den Bussche H. Cholinesterase inhibitors for patients with Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review of randomized clinical trials.BMJ. 2005 Aug 6;331(7512):321–7. PMID: 16081444.
Reeve E, Farrell B, Thomson W, Herrman N, Sketris I, Magin PJ, Chenoweth L, Gorman M, Quirke L, Bethune G, Hilmer SN. Deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in dementia: guideline summary. Med. J.Aust. 2019 Feb 16; 210: 174-179. PMID: 30771226.
Reeve E, Farrell B, Thompson W, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Sydney: University of Sydney, 2018.
Farrell B, Mangin D. Deprescribing is an essential part of good prescribing. Am Fam Physician. 2019; 99(1):7-9. PMID: 30600973.
Hajjar ER, Cafiero AC, Hanlon JT. Polypharmacy in elderly patients. Am J Geriatr Pharm. 2007 Dec;5(4):345–51. PMID: 18179993.
Steinman MA, Hanlon JT. Managing medications in clinically complex elders: “There’s got to be a happy medium”. JAMA. 2010 Oct 13;304(14):1592–1601. PMID: 20940385.
Bartlett S, Keir S. Calculating the carbon footprint of a Geriatric Medicine clinic before and after COVID-19. Age Ageing. 2022 Feb 2;51(2):afab275. PMID: 35134839.
Chuen VL, Dholakia S, Karla S et al. Geriatric Specialists’ Perspectives on telemedicine during the Covid-19 Pandemic: a concurrent triangulation Mixed-Methods Study. Can Geriatr J. 2023 Jun; 26(2):283-289. PMID: 37265985.
Lam K, Lu AD, Shi Y et al. Assessing Telemedicine Unreadiness Among Older Adults in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(10):1389–1391. PMID: 32744593.
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About Choosing Wisely Canada
Choosing Wisely Canada is the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in health care. One of its important functions is to help clinicians and patients engage in conversations that lead to smart and effective care choices.
Web: choosingwiselycanada.org
Email: info@choosingwiselycanada.org
Twitter: @ChooseWiselyCA
Facebook: /ChoosingWiselyCanada
Using Antibiotics Wisely in Long-Term Care
A campaign to help clinicians use antibiotics wisely in long-term care.
Less Sedatives for Your Relatives
A toolkit for reducing benzodiazepines and sedatives among adults in hospitals.
Drowsy Without Feeling Lousy
A toolkit for deprescribing benzodiazepines and other sedative hypnotics in primary care.
Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Older People
When you need them and when you don’t.
Bone Density Tests
When you need them and when you don’t.
Insomnia and Anxiety in Older People
Sleeping pills are usually not the best solution.
Feeding Tubes for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
When you need them and when you don’t.
Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Popular supplements don’t work.
Palliative Care
Support at any time during a serious illness.
Treating Disruptive Behaviour in People with Dementia
Antipsychotic drugs are usually not the best choice