The challenge is to keep clinical assessments of mobility in older adults relevant, practical, and patient-centered by integrating traditional functional tests with modern technologies.

Sebastião, E., & Nagamatsu, L. S. (2026). Old Is Gold: The Continued Relevance of Functional Tests in Older Adults Amid Technological Advances in the Field of Exercise and Rehabilitation. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 34(2), 129-131. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2025-0420   Lindsay Nagamatsu

Before launching a large clinical trial, researchers must address potential obstacles that could prevent the study from succeeding. The researchers introduce the concepts of feasibility and pilot studies and provide examples relevant for planning complex interventions.

Giangregorio, L., Lancaster, G., & Thabane, L. (2026). Feasibility and pilot studies for complex interventions. Complex Interventions in Health, 99-109. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003495642-16   Lora Giangregorio

The design of remote health care for physical function often does not include the needs and preferences of older adults. Researchers used a multi-round survey to ask adults aged 60 years and older to report their level of agreement with statements about remote assessment and management.

Dent, E., Hurst, C., Dalla Via, J., Fyfe, J. J., Jansons, P., Hayes, E. J., Skinner, G., Sim, M., Aubertin-Leheudre, M., Britting, S., Buckinx, F., Connolly, G., Dignam, R., Giangregorio, L., Jones, J. R. A., Kelly, P., Kob, R., Morin, S. N., Nandakumar, G., ... Orssatto, L. B. R. (2026). Developing Consumer Consensus on Remote Assessment and Management of Physical Function in Older Adults (RAMP): International Modified Delphi Process. JMIR Aging, 9, e75791. https://doi.org/10.2196/75791   Lora Giangregorio

Depression is often undiagnosed and untreated among South Asian populations in Canada, creating a global health burden. To examine this, researchers used home care assessment data from 2018 to 2022 to compare mood disturbance and risk factors for a depression diagnosis between South Asian and general home care clients in Ontario.

Behera, P., Gill, N., Sultan, H., Heckman, G. A. W., & Hirdes, J. P. (2026). Symptoms of Mood Disturbance and Depression Diagnosis Among South Asian Home Care Clients in Ontario, Canada: Evidence of Under‐Detection of Mental Health Needs. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 41(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70201   Navjot Gill-Chawla

There is limited evidence on how different levels of formal home care services are associated with the health-related quality of life for older adults. To examine this, researchers completed a study using administrative data collected from Home Care clients in Edmonton, Alberta, over sequential years.

Flemming, J., Wu, X. Y., Thanh, N. X., Johnson, S., & Ohinmaa, A. (2026). The Associations Between Formal Home Care Service Levels and Health-Related Quality of Life of Older Adults Receiving this Care. Home Health Care Management & Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/10848223261418715   Shanthi Johnson

Researchers sought to determine the associations of inflammation with body composition and physical capacity in Canadian adults with and without osteoarthritis and multimorbidities. They analyzed data from 30,097 participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, categorizing individuals into subgroups by sex and health status to perform a statistical analysis.

Marriott, K. A., Stratford, P. W., Verschoor, C. P., Bowdish, D. M. E., Mourtzakis, M., Chopp-Hurley, J. N., Wiebenga, E. G., & Maly, M. R. (2026). Associations of body fat percentage with C-reactive protein levels in Canadian adults with and without osteoarthritis: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). PLOS One, 21(2), e0341604. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0341604   Monica Maly

A new instrument was needed to assess social connection among long-term care home residents. Researchers developed a scale using literature review and interviews, then evaluated the final instrument with 52 resident-staff dyads in the UK and Canada.

Sommerlad, A., Stewart, S., Chapman, H., Dewan, N., Livingston, G., McGilton, K. S., Banerjee, S., Corazzini, K., Edvardsson, D., Liougas, M. P., O’Rourke, H. M., & Bethell, J. (2026). Development and Testing of the Social Connection in Long-Term Care Home Residents (SONNET) Scale. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648261425289   Hannah O'Rourke

The widespread belief that menopause causes a rapid and large loss of muscle is being re-examined. Researchers conducted a disciplined synthesis of existing human studies to clarify what the literature actually supports.

Phillips, S. M. (2026). Menopause and Muscle: Closer to Answers, but Significant Questions Remain. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.70248   Stuart Phillips