In a recent publication of the Annals of Long Term Care, a research study regarding the impact of gait disturbances and hearing loss on predicting 6-month mortality in geriatric patients post-cardiac event was discussed. The study identified that while the traditional mortality risk factors remained important, the functional impairment measures resulted in significantly improved mortality risk prediction.

This study can be quite helpful as many of our residents have gait and hearing issues and if we can work with them to improve at least the gait disturbance, we may assist in prolonging their lives after a cardiac event.