An evaluation of needs in elderly continuing-care settings.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Elderly individuals in long-term care settings, including nursing care (NC) and residential care (RC), often present complex and varied needs.
• Assessing these needs is crucial for developing effective care strategies and improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compare the met and unmet needs of elderly residents in NC and RC settings.
• To explore the relationship between dependency levels and specific needs within these care environments.
• To inform clinical practice and policy development for continuing care for the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) through resident and staff interviews to assess met and unmet needs.
• Employed the Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly-Behaviour Rating Scale (CAPE-BRS) to measure resident dependency levels.
• Administered the Mini-Mental State Examination and recorded DSM-IV diagnoses for cognitive and psychiatric assessment.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of needs was observed in both NC and RC settings, with dependency levels correlating with need severity.
• Core needs in accommodation, food preparation, and self-care were generally met in both settings.
• Residential care residents showed a significantly higher unmet need for suitable daytime activities, whereas nursing care residents exhibited greater dependency, particularly in apathy and social skills.

Conclusions:

• Findings indicate a substantial need for specialized services to address specific unmet needs in NC (social disturbances) and RC (daytime activities) settings.
• Gender was a significant predictor of care setting, with more females in RC.
• The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) is a valuable tool for evaluating needs in long-term care settings, guiding future care development.