Swallowing difficulty and lack of influenza vaccination are important, modifiable risks for pneumonia and other LRTIs in elderly residents of long-term care facilities. Our findings challenge the commonly held belief that pneumonia leads to long-term decline in functional status in this population.

Antibiotic use is frequent and highly variable amongst patients who receive chronic care. Reducing antibiotic prescriptions for asymptomatic bacteriuria represents an important way to optimize antibiotic use in this population.

Bloodstream infections seem to be infrequent among outpatients receiving infusions through central and midline catheters. However, the rate of infection increases with bone marrow transplantation, parenteral nutrition, infusion therapy in a hospital clinic or physician's office, and use of multilumen catheters. Compared with implanted ports or peripherally inserted catheters, centrally inserted venous catheters may confer greater risk for bloodstream infection.

A loss of embodied wholeness which underpins the experience of stoma formation can be represented through awareness of the disrupted lived body and impact on the lifeworld. Findings suggest the need for further research to identify a comprehensive conceptualization of bodily change, which can more closely match healthcare service to individual patient need.

No abstract

Among this elderly population living in LTCFs, MAC is the best nutritional predictor of mortality.

No abstract

Elderly subjects living in LTCFs in Toronto despite having a normal body mass index (BMI), do not meet the recommended levels of intake for protein and many of the micronutrients. LTCFs staff should monitor dietary intake. Menu modification and micronutrient supplementation may be required in order to meet the daily requirements of these elderly.