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E-Newsletter • August 2026 |
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Editor's E-Note
Aging in place provides great comfort for older adults who want to maintain their independence while upholding the familiarity that comes with living at home. However, due to various struggles, economic hardships, an increase in the cost of living, and workforce shortages, this can often be difficult. This month’s exclusive dives into a few factors making aging in place particularly difficult for older adults and the critical gaps in care that need to be addressed to potentially solve this problem.
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.
— Josh Hildebrand |
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Out of Reach: Accessible, Affordable Aging in Place Remains Elusive
By Elizabeth S. Goar
Three-quarters of Americans age 50 and older, and 85% age 65 and older, want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. The harsh reality is that, for most, their desire to age in place will be stymied by the triple barriers of housing readiness, affordability, and an insufficient workforce.1
The looming “gray tsunami” of aging Baby Boomers will see the nation’s 65+ age group climb to more than 82 million by 2050—a 47% increase over 2023—and those 85 and up will reach nearly 17.5 million.2 It will create a demand for aging-in-place services that the already-struggling long-term services and support (LTSS) industry is ill-equipped to manage.
“I work with seniors on affording long term care, so LTSS is an issue I see up close every day. The biggest problem is that there are nowhere near enough LTSS workers, so many seniors just aren't getting the help they need,” says Yehuda Tropper, CEO at Beca Life Settlements. “Aging in place isn't just about medical care; it's about taking showers and brushing your teeth. Without filling that gap, the horror images people have in mind when they think of a nursing home will just happen to seniors at home instead.”
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Improving Dementia Detection With Training
It is typically primary care providers who first notice the early signs of dementia in patients. With that in mind, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that dementia training for these providers bolsters confidence in identifying early signs of dementia and increases vital screening rates. Their research is published in Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
Area Agency on Aging Receives Workforce Grant
Workforce shortages in the health care sector threaten patients of all ages, but the stark lack of health care workers specializing in geriatrics is particularly alarming. Thanks to a grant from the Corewell Health Foundation’s Community Wellness Endowment, Area Agency on Aging can dedicate more resources to expanding its geriatric resources via training programs.
Veterans Are Remaining Independent With New Home Care Program
According to research done by the VA, caregivers and veterans living in Providence and Boston are doing much better aging at home thanks to the new Choose Home Care program. The researchers found that 85% of veterans felt they were “doing better at home” and 89% were “satisfied with the program.” Their research is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Full-Fat Dairy Could Have Health Benefits for Older Adults
A study conducted by a University of Toronto professor found that full-fat dairy, despite previous studies, does not negatively impact body weight or worsen cholesterol. This research is of particular importance for older adults, as full-fat dairy is familiar and provides an easy source of protein and energy without increasing diabetes or chronic disease risk. The research is published in the Journal of Nutrition. |
Injection Could Help Identify Alzheimer’s Disease on PET Scans
Enigma Biomedical USA recently announced FDA approval of TAUKLARIFY™ (florquinitau F 18 injection, also previously referred to as MK-6240), a radiodiagnostic agent indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) of the brain in adults with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease to identify patients with tau neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology.
TAUKLARIFY was evaluated in two clinical studies. Five independent blinded readers in each study classified scans as positive or negative for tau NFT pathology, and each scan was then compared against a preestablished reference standard based on cognitive status and amyloid beta PET pathology status. The studies included scans from a total of 617 subjects, including 152 with mild Alzheimer's disease dementia, 157 with mild cognitive impairment, and 308 cognitively unimpaired individuals. Both studies met their prespecified success criteria:
Warnings and Precautions
Risk of Misdiagnosis in Patients Being Evaluated for Alzheimer’s Disease
TAUKLARIFY performance for identifying patients with tau NFT pathology was assessed in subjects who were expected to have predominantly no tau NFT pathology (ie, cognitively unimpaired and amyloid beta PET-negative) or predominantly clinically significant levels of tau NFT pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease (ie, cognitively impaired and amyloid beta PET-positive). TAUKLARIFY performance for identifying patients with tau NFT pathology may be lower in patients in earlier stages of the pathological spectrum.
A negative TAUKLARIFY scan does not necessarily exclude the presence of tau NFT pathology, and a positive TAUKLARIFY scan does not necessarily indicate the presence of histopathologically confirmed tau NFT pathology. Consider additional evaluation when clinical uncertainty remains.
Adverse Reactions
The most commonly reported adverse reactions, with incidence greater than or equal to 0.1%, were headache, discomfort, nausea, injection site reactions, and dizziness. |
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