 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Marcie Weinstein, MBA, OTR/L, Department of Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252, 410-704-2321, mweinstein@towson.edu and Nancy A. Miller, PhD, Policy Sciences Graduate Program, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.
A study of 200 adults between the ages of 18 and 64, recently admitted to one of 17 nursing homes, was undertaken to determine their preferences for participation in health care decision-making, and their actual participation in the nursing home admission decision. Individual in-person interviews collected information concerning sociodemographic characteristics, health status, values and preferences. Results indicate that the majority of participants were male, African-American, and single or divorced. Roughly half had completed high school and approximately 90 % reported annual incomes under $15,000. Alcohol and drug problems were self-identified as primary or secondary medical conditions in nearly two-thirds of the participants, and most had been admitted immediately following inpatient hospitalization. Two-thirds rated their health as fair or poor, and roughly half reported having mental health problems or arrhythmia. Regarding their participation in the nursing home admission decision, three-fourths preferred “a lot” of involvement and less than 10 % preferred no involvement. However, less than half reported they had “a lot” of actual involvement, and a third reported no involvement at all. Nearly half were unable to identify any health care provider who was involved in the admission decision, and very few stated that they knew their providers prior to admission. Similarly, over half reported no family involvement in the admission decision. As the lifetime risk of nursing home admission is substantial, this information may be useful in guiding long-term care decisions that are influenced by consumer values and preferences, and policies that consider shared decision-making when desired.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Decision-Making
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.