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06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Care needs of higher-functioning nursing home residents
Matthew K McNabney1, Jennifer L Wolff, Lisa M Semanick
1Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. mmcnabne@jhmi.edu
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
|July 10, 2007
Summary
Many nursing home residents with minimal disability have chronic conditions. These higher-functioning individuals may be candidates for community living, reducing healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Nursing home (NH) residents often have complex health needs.
- A subset of long-stay NH residents may have minimal functional impairment.
- Identifying these individuals is crucial for optimizing care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and characterize chronic conditions in "higher-functioning" older adults residing in nursing homes.
- To assess the potential for these residents to transition to less restrictive community settings.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the 1999 National Nursing Home Survey.
- Defined "higher-functioning" residents as those needing assistance with 0-2 activities of daily living.
- Classified chronic conditions including mobility, rehabilitation needs, mental health, incontinence, sensory impairment, and specific medical diagnoses.
Main Results:
- 19.8% of NH residents met the "higher-functioning" criteria (n=1145).
- Prevalent conditions included mental disorders (64.1%), impaired mobility (40.4%), and multiple medical diagnoses (43.0%).
- Significant proportions also had incontinence (20.6%) and required rehabilitative therapy (18%).
Conclusions:
- Higher-functioning long-stay NH residents exhibit chronic care needs comparable to community-dwelling older adults.
- A substantial number of these residents may be suitable for relocation to community-based settings.
- This suggests potential for improved quality of life and cost savings through deinstitutionalization.
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