Long-term-care residents: concerns identified by population and care trends

Despite rising concern over population aging, few descriptions exist of long-term-care (LTC) residents, the people who are normally the oldest and the most dependent persons. This study sought to describe a LTC resident population and trends in this population.

A descriptive-comparative quantitative analysis of all data (1988-1999) from a provincial (Alberta) LTC resident database was undertaken.

Over the 10-year period, there was a significant increase in care needs. In the 1988, the mean Requirement Score was a "C" (indicating low to medium level care was required); by the 1999, the mean score was "E" (medium to high level care). There were both a substantial reduction in residents with low care needs and an increase in residents with high care needs. Although the mean age of LTC residents increased from 80.5 to 82.5, residents under age 65 had higher care needs. General linear modelling also revealed younger age was a significant influence in regard to higher care needs, along with larger (versus smaller) LTC admission to death also declined significantly from 6.9 to 3.4 years. Although this study may only confirm what is suspected about LTC residents, it should raise discussion over the impact of limited LTC beds on families, community-based health services, and acute care hospitals; and the implications of more dependent residents on LTC facility and personnel planning [corrected]