Research Objective: There have been a variety of programs and initiatives developed to shift the placement of seniors from nursing facilities to less institutionalized settings. One of the groups for which such initiatives may be of value are long term elderly nursing home residents. Unfortunately, there is relatively little information available concerning functional and cognitive changes (declines) among such individuals.
Study Design: MDS+ Data for the period of 1992 to 1996 were utilized to select a 15% random sample of all long term (2 continuous years) residents in nursing facilities in the four states involved in the Multi-state Quality Assurance Demonstration (Kansas, Maine, Mississippi and South Dakota). A total of 6,121 residents were selected. These data were also used to develop measures of cognitive and functional ability, and resource utilization categories (Resource Utilization Groups: RUGs) at the start and end of the two year period.
Findings: Over the period, ADL scores and resource utilization (as measured by RUGs case mix index) declined significantly for long term residents. Additionally, declines in cognitive functioning were positively associated with significantly larger declines in function ability, as well as quality of life measures such as restraint use.
Conclusions: These results indicate the difficulty of placing many long term nursing facility residents in residential care facilities or other less institutional settings. While many long term residents exhibit improved cognitive and functional capability over time, many exhibit serious decline in both categories.
Learning Objectives: Understand the impact of declines in cognitive functioning on physical functioning and quality of life among elderly, long term, nursing home residents
Keywords: Dementia, Nursing Homes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.