Placement of dementia sufferers in residential and nursing home care

Age Ageing. 1998 Mar;27(2):189-93. doi: 10.1093/ageing/27.2.189.

Abstract

Background: Few UK studies have examined the associations of residential or nursing home placement in dementia sufferers.

Method: 124 patients with mild to moderate dementia (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised) and in contact with clinical services were evaluated with a detailed standardized assessment and followed-up at monthly intervals for 1 year.

Results: 25 (21.6%) of the 116 patients living at home were admitted to residential or nursing home care during the follow-up year. Institutional placement was associated with greater severity of cognitive impairment, severity of parkinsonism and the failure of carers to adopt active coping strategies.

Conclusion: An intervention to improve coping skills in carers may decrease the rates of residential and nursing home placement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cognition Disorders / therapy
  • Dementia / therapy*
  • Female
  • Housing for the Elderly / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Nursing Homes / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • United Kingdom