|
E-Newsletter • March 2026 |
▼ ADVERTISEMENT
Editor's E-Note
Loneliness receives growing attention as a major public health issue affecting older adults. In this month’s E-News Exclusive, we share findings from a new study examining bereaved older adults and how individual grief and loneliness symptoms relate to each other as well as offer insights for supporting social reconnection.
In addition to reading our e-newsletter, be sure to visit Today’s Geriatric Medicine’s website at TodaysGeriatricMedicine.com, where you’ll find news and information that’s relevant and reliable. We welcome your feedback at TGMeditor@gvpub.com. Follow Today’s Geriatric Medicine on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, too.
— Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN, editor |
|
|
| In This E-Newsletter
|
▼ ADVERTISEMENT
 |
|
|
When Loss Reshapes the Social World
By Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN
As individuals age, they are increasingly likely to face the deaths of spouses, siblings, and longtime friends. These losses often occur alongside other life transitions—retirement, declining health, and changes in mobility—that can gradually alter social networks and daily routines.
For many older adults, bereavement can lead to a profound shift in how they experience social connection. The death of a partner may remove a primary source of companionship, shared activities, and emotional support. Over time, this change can contribute to loneliness and social isolation, both of which are now recognized as important determinants of health in older populations.1
For clinicians and professionals working in geriatric care, understanding how grief interacts with loneliness and social isolation is increasingly important. Research suggests that these experiences can significantly influence emotional adjustment, physical health, and quality of life in later life.1
|
Why Dementia Is Missed for 3.5 Years on Average
Many people with dementia endure long delays often over three years before receiving a diagnosis. A global review of over 30,000 cases reveals that age, dementia type, and systemic health care issues like specialist access and cultural barriers contribute to these delays. Researchers call for coordinated strategies to raise public awareness, reduce stigma, and train clinicians to recognize early symptoms and streamline referrals. Learn more »
Study Challenges Notion That Aging Means Decline, Finds Many Older Adults Improve Over Time
Aging in later life is often portrayed as a steady slide toward physical and cognitive decline. But a new study by scientists at Yale University suggests an alternate narrative—that older individuals can and do improve over time, and their mindset toward aging plays a major part in their success. Learn more » |
A Matter of Ease
One of the barriers with smart home devices for seniors, or anyone, has been the compatibility question. A Ring doorbell doesn’t easily communicate with Philips Hue lights. An Amazon Echo can’t always control Google-ecosystem devices smoothly. Matter, a manufacturer-independent connection standard for the smart home is the connectivity standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. Regardless of their origin, lamps, thermostats, plug adapters, sensors, and other components can be combined with each other at will—as long as they comply with the Matter standard. It’s designed to create a universal language for smart home devices. For older adults and the family members helping them set up these systems, Matter means fewer apps, fewer compatibility challenges, and more devices that can quickly work together right out of the box. The standard has been rolling out new products since late 2022, and the device library is steadily growing. Matter specifies a basic set of features that all vendors of certified Matter products must support. Rather than a product anyone buys directly, it’s a set of standards that regulate how devices communicate with each other and makes a multidevice smart home for older adult users more manageable without requiring a tech-savvy person on call. The Matter inventors have gone to great lengths to make hacking devices more difficult, if not completely impossible. Learn more » |
| Advertising Opportunities |
Have a product or service you want to market to geriatric care professionals? Utilize the reach of Today's Geriatric Medicine to accomplish your marketing goals. Email our experienced account executives today at sales@gvpub.com or call 800-278-4400 for more information.
|
| © 2026 Today's Geriatric Medicine |
|
|
