Related Experiment Videos
Nursing home utilization in adults: a prospective population-based study.
D L Wingard1, D Williams-Jones, J McPhillips
1University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Journal of Aging and Health
|April 9, 1990
Summary
Nursing home use increased with age and was higher for women. Admission rates peaked the year before death, indicating a need for better elder care planning.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding long-term care utilization is crucial for public health planning.
- Previous studies have not fully captured temporal trends in nursing home admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine rates and predictors of nursing home utilization.
- To analyze trends in nursing home admissions over a 15-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 1,302 individuals in Southern California (1972-1986).
- Analysis of nursing home admission rates based on age, sex, diagnosis, and proximity to death.
Main Results:
- Dementia, cancer, and stroke were leading admission diagnoses.
- Nursing home use increased with age and was higher in women.
- Admission rates were higher in the year preceding death, declining at the time of death.
Conclusions:
- Age and female sex are associated with higher nursing home utilization.
- Admission patterns suggest a need for improved end-of-life care and support services.
- Longitudinal data reveal distinct utilization patterns compared to cross-sectional observations.