Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 24
Dementia programme effectiveness in long-term care
- Authors:
- ROSEWARNE Richard, BRUCE Ann, McKENNA Margaret
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12(2), February 1997, pp.173-182.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Examines the effectiveness of dementia programmes in Australian hostels for the elderly. Also describes the characteristics which placed hostel residents at risk for nursing home placement and to measure changes in dependencies and impairments over two years. Results of the study found that residents in hostel dementia programmes remained significantly longer than those in the comparison group before exit to a nursing home. Quality of life in dementia programmes was enhanced thorough higher levels of social contact with relatives and lower reported levels of depressive symptoms. Benefits of the dementia programmes were that specialist staff could focus on the social and emotional needs of residents. Staff also provided appropriate, targeted activities for residents with dementia and increased the capacity of hostels to care for residents with dementia for longer periods, before admission to a nursing home.
Effective treatments of late-life depression in long-term care facilities: a systematic reivew
- Authors:
- YOON Seokwon, MOON Sung Seek, PITNER Roland
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 28(2), 2018, pp.116-130.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effective treatment to manage the depression of older residents. Methods: Using Klein and Bloom’s criteria, the authors analysed the number of subjects, designs and methodologies, residential types, intervention types and duration of treatment, standardised measures, and findings. Data searches were conducted to classify empirical studies and to review empirical literature published from 2007 to 2014. A systematic research synthesis of 25 articles was conducted to investigate how various treatments affected depression among older residents. Results: The results show that antidepressant medication treatment appears less efficacious in treating less severe depression. Discussion: These findings reveal that minor depression should be treated initially with a nonpharmacologic intervention to avoid unnecessary medication risks. The findings further suggest the need for more comprehensive analyses of longitudinal research and the need for more studies that examine the combination of medication and psychotherapy for depressed older adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
End-of-life conversations and hospice placement: association with less aggressive care desired in the nursing home
- Authors:
- REINHARDT Joann P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 13(1), 2017, pp.61-81.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Education about end-of-life care and treatment options, communication between family and health care providers, and having advance directives and medical orders in place are important for older adults with chronic, progressive decline and end-stage disease who spend their last days in the nursing home. This study used retrospective data (6 months before death) of long-stay nursing home decedents (N = 300) taken from electronic health records to capture the end-of-life experience. Findings showed for almost all decedents, Do Not Resuscitate and Do Not Intubate orders were in place, and just over one-half had Do Not Hospitalize and No Artificial Feeding orders in place. A small proportion had No Artificial Hydration or No Antibiotic orders in place. Overall, there was congruence between documented medical orders and treatment received. Findings showed that use of hospice and discussions about particular life-sustaining treatments each had significant associations with having less aggressive medical orders in place. These results can inform best practice development to promote high quality, person-directed, end-of-life care for nursing home residents. (Publisher abstract)
Safeness and treatment mitigate the effect of loneliness on satisfaction with elderly care
- Authors:
- KAJONIUS Petri J., KAZEMI Ali
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 56(5), 2016, pp.928-936.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Maximising satisfaction among the older persons is the goal of modern individualised elderly care and how to best achieve this is of relevance for people involved in planning and providing elderly care services. Purpose of the Study: What predicts satisfaction with care among older persons can be conceived as a function of process (how care is performed) and the older person. Inspired by the long-standing person versus situation debate, the present research investigated the interplay between person- and process-related factors in predicting satisfaction with elderly care. Design and Methods: A nationwide sample was analysed, based on a questionnaire with 95,000 individuals using elderly care services. Results: The results showed that person-related factors (i.e., anxiety, health, and loneliness) were significant predictors of satisfaction with care, although less strongly than process-related factors (i.e., treatment, safeness, and perceived staff and time availability). Among the person-related factors, loneliness was the strongest predictor of satisfaction among older persons in nursing homes. Interestingly, a path analysis revealed that safeness and treatment function as mediators in linking loneliness to satisfaction. Implications: The results based on a large national sample demonstrate that the individual ageing condition to a significant degree can be countered by a well-functioning care process, resulting in higher satisfaction with care among older persons. (Edited publisher abstract)
Changing our view of older people's continence care
- Author:
- DENNIS Jacqueline
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 112(20), 2016, pp.12-14.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
An assumption is often made that incontinence is inevitable in older people, or those with dementia or other long-term conditions. However, research has highlighted strategies that can help them to remain continent. A working group was established to develop a resource to promote continence for people with dementia and long-term conditions. This article explores the resources's key messages, as well as the importance of changing how incontinence is viewed, and what health professionals and the public expect of continence services. (Publisher abstract)
The positive association of end-of-life treatment discussions and care satisfaction in the nursing home
- Authors:
- REINHARDT Joann P., BOERNER Kathrin, DOWNES Deirdre
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 11(3-4), 2015, pp.307-322.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
With the progression of dementia, the need for families and health care providers to have discussions about end-of-life (EOL) treatments arises. EOL treatment decisions often involve whether or not medical interventions intended to prolong life—such as resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration, and use of antibiotics—are desired. It is unclear if family satisfaction with care in the nursing home may be associated with involvement in EOL treatment discussions. The frequency of discussions that family members reported having with health care team members regarding multiple life-sustaining treatments and symptom management for their relatives with advanced dementia were examined over a 6-month period along with the association of these particular discussions with care satisfaction over time. Results showed that greater frequency of discussion of EOL treatment wishes was positively associated with higher care satisfaction scores among family members of nursing home residents with dementia. When considered together, greater frequency of discussion of artificial hydration was uniquely associated with greater care satisfaction and increased care satisfaction over time. Social workers must ensure that EOL treatment discussions with older adults in the nursing home and their family members take place and that preferences are communicated among the various interdisciplinary health team members. (Publisher abstract)
Prognosis is important in decisionmaking in Dutch nursing home patients with dementia and pneumonia
- Authors:
- van der STEEN Jenny, HELTON Margaret R., RIBBLE Miel W.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(9), September 2009, pp.933-936.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explored how physicians treating nursing home residents with dementia and pneumonia in the Netherlands consider prognosis in their treatment decision. Survey study with data collected between July 2006 and March 2008. Physicians (n = 69) from 54 nursing homes in the Netherlands completed a questionnaire on symptoms, treatment, and prognosis for their next dementia patient newly diagnosed with pneumonia. They were also asked a general question regarding withholding antibiotic treatment and prognosis. Outcome was assessed at least two months afterwards. Two-week mortality risk if treated with antibiotics was calculated with a validated prognostic score. The patients not treated with antibiotics had high (92%) actual 2-week mortality while only 12% of patients treated with antibiotics died. Physicians believed that mortality risk was high in the untreated group and would have been only slightly lower if treated with antibiotics (mean estimated risk 73%), which was higher than predicted from the risk score (42%). In general, three-quarters of physicians considered withholding antibiotics appropriate for mortality risks between 75% and 90%. Prognosis is an important consideration when Dutch nursing home physicians make antibiotic treatment decisions for patients with dementia and pneumonia. This suggests they prefer not to treat with antibiotics when to do so is probably futile. Physicians in other countries may hold different views on futility, which should be addressed in larger, cross-national comparative studies.
One last pleasure?: alcohol use among elderly people in nursing homes
- Authors:
- WALDO Klein.C., JESS Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 27(3), August 2002, pp.193-203.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The study discussed in this article describes the alcohol-related policies, practices, and problems experienced by a sample of 111 intermediate care facilities and homes for elderly people in the United States. Despite the problems reported, screening for alcohol problems among residents, treatment of identified problems and training of staff were not found to be widespread. Ambiguity about the role of alcohol as a social beverage or as a psychoactive substance to be managed was identified.
The prevalence diagnosis and treatment of depression in dementia patients in chronic care facilities in the last six months of life
- Authors:
- EVERS Martin M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(5), May 2002, pp.464-472.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reports on an American study to asses the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of depression among dementia patients. Perimortal data concerning dementia severity, depressive symptoms and diagnoses, and medication use for 279 dementia patients and 24 normal controls brought to autopsy through an Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center. Results found major depression was highly prevalent in both dementia patients and normal controls, indicating that depression is an important issue for the elderly in the last six months of life irrespective of cognitive status. Under-diagnosis of depression by physicians was also found. Dementia was also found to be undertreated in both dementia patients and normal controls.
The impact of mental health problems on leg ulcer treatment
- Authors:
- KILROY-FINDLEY Anita, WHEATLEY Carolyn
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 21.2.02, 2002, pp.51-52.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Reports on a case study which follows the progress of a patient with chronic bilateral leg ulcers and mental health problems. Discuss how her mental health problems affected her physical health and the treatment she received and the collaboration required from staff in five settings to ensure she received continuity of care.