Testing the Implementation of Function-focused Care in Assisted Living Settings

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the Function-Focused Care for Assisted Living Using the Evidence Integration Triangle (FFC-AL-EIT) intervention.DesignFFC-AL-EIT was a randomized controlled pragmatic trial including 85 sites and 794 residents.InterventionFFC-AL-EIT was implemented by a Research Nurse Facilitator working with a facility champion and stakeholder team for 12 months to increase function and physical activity among residents. FFC-AL-EIT included (Step I) Environment and Policy Assessments; (Step II) Education; (Step III) Establishing Resident Function-Focused Care Service Plans; and (Step IV) Mentoring and Motivating.Setting and ParticipantsThe age of participants was 89.48 years [standard deviation (SD) = 7.43], and the majority were female (n = 561; 71%) and white (n = 771; 97%).MethodsResident measures, obtained at baseline, 4, and 12 months, included function, physical activity, and performance of function-focused care. Setting outcomes, obtained at baseline and 12 months, included environment and policy assessments and service plans.ResultsReach was based on 85 of 90 sites that volunteered (94%) participating. Effectiveness was based on less decline in function (P < .001), more function-focused care (P = .012) and better environment (P = .032) and policy (P = .003) support for function-focused care in treatment sites. Adoption was supported with 10.00 (SD = 2.00) monthly meetings held, 77% of settings engaged in study activities as or more than expected, and direct care workers providing function-focused care (63% to 68% at 4 months and 90% at 12 months). The intervention was implemented as intended, and education was received based on a mean knowledge test score of 88% correct. Evidence of maintenance from 12 to 18 months was noted in treatment site environments (P = .35) and policies continuing to support function-focused care (P = .28)].Conclusions and ImplicationsThe Evidence Integration Triangle is an effective implementation approach for assisted living. Future work should continue to consider innovative approaches for measuring RE-AIM outcomes.     

Spouse and Adult-Child Dementia Caregivers in Chinese American Families: Who Are More Stressed Out?

ObjectivesThough many studies have explored differences between spouses and adult children in dementia care, empirical evidence is lacking on racial- and ethnic-minority populations. To fill this research gap, this study examined care tasks, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms of Chinese spouse and adult-child caregivers in dementia care. Guided by the stress process model, this study asked 3 questions: Do spouse and adult-child caregivers take up different care tasks and experience different levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms? Does gender moderate the differences between spouse and adult-child caregivers? Whether care tasks and burden mediate the association between being a spouse/adult-child caregiver and depressive symptoms?Setting and ParticipantsData were collected from a questionnaire-based survey of Chinese Americans who provided care for their family members with dementia in New York City. The analytical sample included 126 Chinese spouse or adult-child caregivers.MethodsCare tasks was indicated by intensity of 8 types of care tasks. Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were measured by Zarit's Burden Interview and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Linear regression, interaction term (spouse/adult-child caregiver by gender), and path analysis were conducted to address the 3 questions.ResultsThe results of linear regression show no significant difference in care tasks between the 2 groups, but spouse caregivers had significantly higher levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms than adult children. Wives had higher levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms than husbands, daughters, and sons. Caregiver burden mediated the association between being a spouse caregiver and higher depressive symptoms, whereas care tasks did not shape such association.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study highlighted the emotional stress of Chinese American older adults in providing care for their spouses. The findings indicate the necessity of developing culturally meaningful activities to support Chinese American spouse caregivers.     

Hospital-at-Home Expands Hospital Capacity During COVID-19 Pandemic

A Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)–specific Hospital-at-Home was implemented in a 400-bed tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Senior or immune-compromised physicians oversaw patient care. The alternative to inpatient care more than doubled beds available for hospitalization and decreased the risk of transmission among patients and health care professionals. Mild cases from either the emergency department or after hospital discharge were deemed suitable for admission to the Hospital-at-Home. More than half of all patients had pneumonia. Standardized protocols and management criteria were provided. Only 6% of cases required referral for inpatient hospitalization. These results are promising and may provide valuable insight for centers undertaking Hospital-at-Home initiatives or in the case of new COVID-19 outbreaks.     

To What Extent Do Local Nursing Home Prescribing Patterns Relate to Psychotropic Prescribing in Assisted Living?

ObjectiveIn nursing homes (NHs), psychoactive medication use has received notable attention, but less is known about prescribing in assisted living (AL). This study examined how antipsychotic and antianxiety medication prescribing in AL compares with NHs.DesignObservational, cross-sectional AL data linked to publicly reported NH measures.Setting and ParticipantsRandom sample of 250 AL communities and the full sample of 3371 NHs in 7 states.MethodsWe calculated the percentage of residents receiving antipsychotics and antianxiety medications. For each AL community, we calculated the distance to NHs in the state. Linear models estimated the relationship between AL prescribing and that of the closest and farthest 5 NHs, adjusting for AL characteristics and state fixed effects.ResultsThe prescribing rate of potentially inappropriate antipsychotics (i.e., excluding for persons with recorded schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome) and of antianxiety medications (excluding for those on hospice) in AL was 15% and 21%, respectively. Unadjusted mean antipsychotic prescribing rates were nominally higher in AL than NHs (14.8% vs 14.6%; P = .056), whereas mean antianxiety prescribing was nominally lower in AL (21.2% vs 22.6%; P = .032). In adjusted analyses, AL rates of antipsychotic use were not associated with NH rates. However, being affiliated with an NH was associated with a lower rate of antipsychotic use [b = −0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.50 to −0.001; P = .043], whereas antianxiety rates were associated with neighboring NHs’ prescribing rates (b = 0.43; 95% CI 0.16–0.70; P = .002).Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study suggests reducing antipsychotic medication use in NHs may influence AL practices in a way not accounted for by local NH patterns. And, because antianxiety medications have not been the focus of national campaigns, they may be more subject to local prescribing behaviors. It seems advantageous to consider prescribing in AL when efforts are implemented to change NH prescribing, as there seems to be related influence whether by affiliation or region.     

COVID-19 Cases and Death in Nursing Homes: The Role of Racial and Ethnic Composition of Facilities and Their Communities

ObjectivesTo examine the extent to which the racial and ethnic composition of nursing homes (NHs) and their communities affects the likelihood of COVID-19 cases and death in NHs, and whether and how the relationship between NH characteristics and COVID-19 cases and death varies with the racial and ethnic composition of the community in which an NH is located.Methods and DesignCenters for Medicare & Medicare Services Nursing Home COVID-19 data were linked with other NH- or community-level data (eg, Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting, Minimum Data Set, Nursing Home Compare, and the American Community Survey). Setting and Participants: NHs with more than 30 occupied beds (N=13,123) with weekly reported NH COVID-19 records between the weeks of June 7, 2020, and August 23, 2020. Measurements and model: Weekly indicators of any new COVID-19 cases and any new deaths (outcome variables) were regressed on the percentage of black and Hispanic residents in an NH, stratified by the percentage of blacks and Hispanics in the community in which the NH was located. A set of linear probability models with NH random effects and robust standard errors were estimated, accounting for other covariates.ResultsThe racial and ethnic composition of NHs and their communities were both associated with the likelihood of having COVID-19 cases and death in NHs. The racial and ethnic composition of the community played an independent role in the likelihood of COVID-19 cases and death in NHs, even after accounting for the COVID-19 infection rate in the community (ie, daily cases per 1000 people in the county). Moreover, the racial and ethnic composition of a community modified the relationship between NH characteristics (eg, staffing) and the likelihoods of COVID-19 cases and death.Conclusions and ImplicationsTo curb the COVID-19 outbreaks in NHs and protect vulnerable populations, efforts may be especially needed in communities with a higher concentration of racial and ethnic minorities. Efforts may also be needed to reduce structural racism and address social risk factors to improve quality of care and population health in communities of color.     

Effects of Staff Training on Nursing Home Residents’ End-Of-Life Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesThis trial examines the effects of end-of-life training on long-term care facility (LTCF) residents' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and use and costs of hospital services.DesignA single-blind, cluster randomized (at facility level) controlled trial (RCT). Our training intervention included 4 small-group 4-hour educational sessions on the principles of palliative and end-of-life care (advance care planning, adverse effects of hospitalizations, symptom management, communication, supporting proxies, challenging situations). Training was provided to all members of staff. Education was based on constructive learning methods and included resident cases, role-plays, and small-group discussions.Setting and participantsWe recruited 324 residents with possible need for end-of-life care due to advanced illness from 20 LTCF wards in Helsinki.MethodsPrimary outcome measures were HRQoL and hospital inpatient days per person-year during a 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes were number of emergency department visits and cost of all hospital services.ResultsHRQoL according to the 15-Dimensional Health-Related Quality-of-Life Instrument declined in both groups, and no difference was present in the changes between the groups (P for group .75, adjusted for age, sex, do-not-resuscitate orders, need for help, and clustering). Neither the number of hospital inpatient days (1.87 vs 0.81 per person-year) nor the number of emergency department visits differed significantly between intervention and control groups (P for group .41). The total hospital costs were similar in the intervention and control groups.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur rigorous RCT on end-of-life care training intervention demonstrated no effects on residents’ HRQoL or their use of hospitals. Unsupported training interventions alone might be insufficient to produce meaningful care quality improvements.     

Association of Creatinine-to-Cystatin C Ratio with Myosteatosis and Physical Performance in Older Adults: The Japan Shimanami Health Promoting Program

ObjectiveSarcopenia is a risk factor for poor outcomes in older adults. Identification of plasma markers may facilitate screening of sarcopenia. We previously reported that creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio is a simple marker of muscle mass. To further assess the clinical relevance of the creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio, we investigated its association with myosteatosis and physical performance.DesignObservational study.Setting and ParticipantsCross-sectional analysis of the dataset obtained from a Japanese population consisting of 1468 older (≥60 years of age) community residents.MethodsThe mean attenuation values of the skeletal muscle calculated from computed tomography images of the midthigh were used as an index of myosteatosis, while the cross-sectional area of the muscle was used as a proxy for muscle mass. Physical performance was assessed by 1-leg standing time.ResultsCreatinine-to-cystatin C ratio was positively associated with the cross-sectional area of muscle fiber-rich muscles, while it showed an inverse association with fat-rich muscle areas, resulting in the positive association between creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio and the mean attenuation value of the skeletal muscle [creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio quartiles (Q), Q1: 47.4 ± 4.8, Q2: 48.9 ± 4.4, Q3: 49.8 ± 4.1, Q4: 50.9 ± 3.7, P < .001]. The results of the linear regression analysis adjusted for major covariates (including muscle cross-sectional area) identified creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio as an independent determinant of the mean attenuation value (Q1: reference, Q2: β = 0.07, P = .019, Q3: β = 0.11, P < .001, Q4: β = 0.16, P < .001). Low creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio was independently associated with 1-leg standing time, although the association was attenuated substantially by adjusting for skeletal muscle cross-sectional area and mean attenuation value.Conclusion and ImplicationsCreatinine-to-cystatin C ratio was associated with myosteatosis in older adults, independent of the muscle mass. Creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio may serve as a convenient marker of sarcopenia.     

Diabetes and Prediabetes Inhibit Reversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition

ObjectivesDiabetes and prediabetes contribute to an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Currently, it remains unclear whether elevated blood HbA1c levels, including prediabetes levels, affect reversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognition. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the prospective associations of diabetes and prediabetes with reversion from MCI to normal cognition among community-dwelling older adults.DesignLongitudinal cohort study with a 4-year follow-up.Setting and ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling older adults with MCI, aged ≥65 years at baseline (n = 787).MethodsParticipants’ medical history of diabetes and blood HbA1c levels at baseline were assessed, and they were classified as control, prediabetes, and diabetes. Objective cognitive screening was performed using a multicomponent neurocognitive test at baseline and follow-up. Reversion from MCI to normal cognition over 4 years was determined. In the longitudinal analysis, we performed multiple imputations to adjust for a selection bias and loss of information.ResultsThe reversion rates of MCI in the control, prediabetes, and diabetes groups were 63.4%, 55.6%, and 42.9%, respectively, in the completed follow-up dataset, and 54.6%, 47.2%, and 34.1%, respectively, in the imputed dataset. Multivariate logistic regression showed that diabetes decreases the probability of MCI reversion both before and after multiple imputations [odds ratio (OR) 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18–0.74 for before imputation, OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.19–0.72 for after imputation]. Furthermore, prediabetes also showed significantly decreased probabilities of MCI reversion both before and after multiple imputations (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.34–0.94 for before imputation, OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37–0.97 for after imputation).Conclusions and ImplicationsDiabetes and prediabetes could inhibit MCI reversion. Adequate glycemic control may be effective in enhancing the reversion from MCI to normal cognition in a community setting.