#Aging and health

25 articles

Head injuries in older adults need checks before home observation

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and England's National Health Service said in 2025 that neurological danger signs require emergency care and blood-thinning treatment requires urgent advice after a head injury. Home care begins only after hospital discharge or clinical advice, with an adult present for the first 24 hours.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

WHO puts PQ.16.1.1 under monitoring as evidence remains thin

WHO designated PQ.16.1.1 a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring on July 27, 2026, after its share of available sequences rose, mainly in the Western Pacific. The agency rated the additional global public health risk as low, while warning that sparse and geographically concentrated evidence limits confidence.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Taiwan funds one-dose pneumococcal vaccines for eligible adults

Taiwan added PCV21 to its publicly funded adult pneumococcal vaccination program on August 10, 2026, giving eligible people a choice of PCV20 or PCV21. One PCV20 or PCV21 dose completes Taiwan's current program when a dose is due, but previous vaccines, age and risk still determine eligibility and timing.

APPI News Editorial 8 min

WHO's ICOPE screen checks six areas but does not diagnose

The World Health Organization's 2025 ICOPE handbook places a six-area capacity screen at the start of a four-stage primary care pathway for older adults. Studies in Spain and Taiwan found that results varied by domain and tool version, limiting what a one-time screen can establish.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Heat alerts call for earlier action for children and older adults

The World Health Organization's July 31, 2026 guidance says heat-related deaths and hospital admissions can rise on the day of an extreme-heat event and in the days that follow. A household plan should connect local warnings to cooling, fluids and rest, with earlier action for children, older adults and people with chronic illness.

APPI News Editorial 9 min

Suspected hypothermia calls for dry clothes, insulation and help

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says suspected hypothermia requires immediate access to emergency medical care. First aid should stop further cooling, replace wet clothes and warm the person gradually while monitoring breathing and responsiveness.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Taiwan adds enhanced flu shots to 7.05 million-dose tender

Taiwan completed a tender in May 2026 for up to 7,050,150 publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccine doses for the 2026-27 season. The program adds adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines for older care-home residents, but its launch date had not been published by July 30.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

WHO framework adds functional ability to older adult assessment

The World Health Organization's updated care framework asks primary-care teams to assess changes in older adults' physical and mental capacities alongside their medical conditions. Walking speed, chair rises and grip strength can inform that review, but none provides a diagnosis or proves what caused a decline.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Resistance training improves strength in frail older adults

A systematic review of 25 randomized trials found that resistance training improved strength and physical performance in older adults with frailty or sarcopenia. The trials varied widely, and their results do not provide a single exercise prescription for every older person.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Delayed brain bleeding can follow a minor fall in older adults

England's National Health Service warns that subdural hematoma symptoms can begin immediately after a head injury or develop gradually over several weeks. Older adults may present with confusion, poor balance or weakness rather than an obvious collapse, and most diagnosed hematomas require surgery.

APPI News Editorial 5 min