A longitudinal evaluation of residents’ health outcomes in nursing homes and residential care homes in Taiwan

Purpose  

The role of nursing homes (NHs) and residential care homes (RHs) frequently overlaps in Taiwan, raising concerns about their level of care. This study aimed to investigate residents’ health outcomes in NHs and RHs 1 year after admission.     

Why are some care homes better than others? An empirical study of the factors associated with quality of care for older people in residential homes in Surrey,England

This paper reports an empirical study that investigated associations between the quality of care received by older people in residential settings and features of the care homes in which they live. Data were gathered from the first announced inspection reports (2002–2003) of all 258 care homes for older people in one county of England (Surrey). The number of inspected standards failed in each home was used as the main indicator of quality of care. Independent variables (for each home) were: size, type, specialist registration, on‐site nursing, ownership, year registered, location, maximum fee, vacancies, resident dependency, whether the home took publicly funded residents, care staff qualifications and managerial quality. Quality of care was modelled using a Poisson count maximum likelihood method based on 245 (91%) of the inspected homes for which relevant data were available. The results showed that quality of care (as defined by failures on national standards) was statistically associated with features of care homes and their residents. A higher probability of failing a standard was significantly associated with being a home that: was a for‐profit small business (adjusted risk ratio (RR) = 1.17); was registered before 2000 (adj. RR = 1.22), accommodated publicly funded residents (adj. RR = 1.12); was registered to provide nursing care (adj. RR = 1.12). Fewer failures were associated with homes that were corporate for‐profit (adj. RR = 0.82); held a specialist registration (adj. RR = 0.91); charged higher maximum fees (adj. RR = 0.98 per 100 pound sterling unit). A secondary analysis revealed a stronger model: higher scores on managerial standards correlated with fewer failures on other standards (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). The results of this study may help inform future policy. They are discussed in the context of alternative approaches to measuring quality of residential care, and in terms of their generalisability.     

Administrative costs in health care—A scoping review

BackgroundAdministrative costs (AC) are a relevant spending category in health care, and several approaches exist on how to define and measure them. Based on available AC studies, this paper aims to provide a map for this multifaceted research topic.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using the databases MEDLINE, EconLit, and Business Source Premier. Literature was screened focussing on the research question: What is known about the methodology of AC research from scientific publications?ResultsDefinition concepts mostly rely on national cost documentations. The international cost reporting framework of the Systems of Health Accounts was a critical reference point in six studies. Indications on how to operationalise AC independently from periodical cost reports were suggested by ten publications. In this context, time and full time equivalents are the most common cost measurements.ConclusionsThe results indicate a lack of evidence regarding patients’ perceptions of administrative issues in health care. Also, research on administrative impact on working conditions for health care employees beyond hospitals and physicians’ offices is underrepresented. A systematic approach to reporting AC studies is needed. Reporting should include the appointment of entities actually empowered to change administrative resource usage. This would help to promote principles of a balanced administration.     

Nutritional and psycho-functional status in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Objectives  

Analysis of variations of nutritional status in relation to psycho-functional conditions in elderly patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by means of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA).     

Nutritional status according to Mini Nutritional Assessment is related to functional status in geriatric patients — independent of health status

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional and functional status in acute geriatric patients including mobility and considering health status.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Hospital.

Participants

205 geriatric patients (median age 82.0 (IQR: 80–86) years, 69.3% women).

Measurements

Nutritional status was determined by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and patients were categorized as well-nourished (≥ 24 points), at risk of malnutrition (17–23.5 points) or as malnourished (< 17 points). Functional status was determined by Barthel Index (BI) and Timed ‘Up and Go’ Test (TUG) and related to MNA categories. Using binary multiple logistic regression the impact of nutritional status on functional status was examined, adjusted for health status.

Results

60.3 % of the patients were at risk of malnutrition and 29.8 % were malnourished. Ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADL) decreased with declining nutritional status. The proportion of patients unable to perform the TUG increased with worsening of nutritional status (45.0 % vs. 50.4 % vs. 77.0 %, p<0.01). After adjusting for age, gender, number of diagnoses, disease severity and cognitive function, a higher MNA score significantly lowered the risk of being dependent in ADL (OR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.77–0.94) and inability to perform the TUG (OR 0.90, 95 % CI 0.82–0.99).

Conclusion

Nutritional status according to MNA was related to ADL as well as to mobility in acute geriatric patients. This association remained after adjusting for health status.     

Does diverse staff and skill mix of teams impact quality of care in long-term elderly health care? An exploratory case study

Objectives

Many European countries face challenges in long-term care for older people, such as the growing number of older people requiring care, the increasing complexity of their health care problems, and a decreasing workforce that is inadequately prepared. Optimizing the staff and skill mix of health care teams may offer part of the solution for these challenges. The aim of this study was to obtain insight into the development of teams in terms of staff and skill mix, and the influence of staff and skill mix on quality of care, quality of life, and job satisfaction.

Methods

Seven teams in elderly care in the Netherlands participated in this exploratory case study. From April 2013 to January 2015, a researcher followed the development of the teams, performed observations at the workplace and held interviews with team members, team captains, and (representatives of) clients. Data-analyses were carried out in MAXQDA 11, by coding interviews and analyzing themes.

Results

During the project, almost all teams became more diverse in terms of staff and skill mix. In general, there was a trend towards adding (more) higher-qualified health care workers (e.g. nurse) to the team, increasing communication with other disciplines, and enhancing skills of lower-qualified team members. A more diverse staff and skill mix had a positive effect on quality of care and quality of life of clients, and on job satisfaction, but only under certain contextual conditions. Important contextual conditions for successful functioning of a diverse team were a shared view of care by all team members, good communication, autonomy for professionals, and a safe team culture.

Conclusion

A more diverse staff and skill mix, in combination with positive contextual conditions, can result in improved quality of care, quality of life, and job satisfaction. However, a “one size fits all” blueprint for the optimal staff and skill mix, that suits each team and organization, does not exist. This depends on the context, and should be based on the needs of the clients and possible future changes in these needs.

     

Comparing the care environment at farm-based and regular day care for people with dementia in Norway—An observational study

People with dementia should be able to live in the community, and day care services are recommended as a means for people to live in their own homes for as long as possible. In this study we wanted to compare the quality of care at one type of small-scale day care situated at community farms to regular day care provided in connection with residential care facilities for elderly people. A total of 42 participants from 10 farm-based day care offers and 46 participants from seven regular day care offers were included. A qualitative observational design using the validated Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation tool was used. The data were collected between March and June 2018. Ecological momentary assessments of the activities taking place, level of engagement, physical effort, location, social interaction and mood were conducted while the participants attended their day care offer. The results showed that familiar daily activities were common at farm-based day care, and a linear mixed model analysis showed that farm-based day care attendees used more physical effort, spent more time outdoors, had more social interaction and experienced more positive mood compared to regular day care attendees. These findings contribute with valuable information about care provided at different types of day care services, and indicate that farm-based day care has more activities with the potential to meet the social and activity needs of people with dementia compared to regular day care. There are two main implication of this study. First, regular day care services should focus on including more familiar daily activities found to be important for attendees’ sense of identity and feelings of contributing. Second, regular day care services should utilise the potential of available outdoor areas as time spent outdoors has been found to facilitate physical activity, relaxation, health and well-being.     

Distribution of African Americans in residential care/assisted living and nursing homes: more evidence of racial disparity?

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined racial separation in long-term care. METHODS: We used a survey of a stratified sample of 181 residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) facilities and 39 nursing homes in 4 states. RESULTS: Most African Americans resided in nursing homes and smaller RC/AL facilities and tended to be concentrated in a few predominantly African American facilities, whereas the vast majority of Whites resided in predominantly White facilities. Facilities housing African Americans tended to be located in rural, nonpoor, African American communities, to admit individuals with mental retardation and difficulty in ambulating, and to have lower ratings of cleanliness/maintenance and lighting. CONCLUSIONS: These racial disparities may result from economic factors, exclusionary practices, or resident choice. Whether separation relates to inequities in care is undetermined.     

Inequalities in access to health care services and utilization for the elderly in São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated to inequalities in access to health care services and utilization for the elderly. METHODS: Study part of the Health, Well-being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean ("SABE") Survey that included 2,143 elderly individuals aged 60 or older in the city of S?o Paulo, southeastern Brazil, in 2000. A two-step sampling procedure with probability proportional to size was carried out using census tracts with replacement. To achieve the desired number of respondents aged 75 or older, additional households close to the selected census tracts were sampled. Access to health services and utilization were measured for outpatient and hospital services during a 4-month period prior to the interview, and correlated to factors related to ability, need and predisposition (total income, schooling, health insurance, reported medical condition, self-perception, gender and age).Multivariate logistic regression was performed in the analysis. RESULTS: Of all respondents, 4.7% reported being hospitalized and 64.4% seeking outpatient care in the four months prior to the study. As for public outpatient care provided, 24.7% were in hospital clinics and 24.1% in other public outpatient services. As for private care, 14.5% received care in hospitals and 33.7% in health clinics. The multivariate analysis showed an association between health service utilization and sex, medical condition, self-perceived health, income, schooling, and health insurance. However, an inverse effect was found for the variable "schooling". CONCLUSIONS: The study results show inequalities in access to health services and utilization as well as a deficient health care system. Public policies should take into account the specific needs of the elderly population to facilitate access to health care services and reduce inequalities.     

Valuing the benefits and costs of health care programmes: where's the 'extra' in extra-welfarism?

The application of Sen's notion of capabilities to problems of the allocation of resources to health in the form of an extra-welfarist framework underlies the justification of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) as the method for valuing the benefits of health care. In this paper we critically appraise this application from both conceptual and empirical perspectives. We show that the alleged limitations of the welfarist approach are essentially limitations in its application, not in the capacity of the approach to accommodate the concerns of extra-welfarists. Moreover, the arguments used to justify the application of the extra-welfarist framework are essentially welfarist. We demonstrate that the methods used to measure QALYs share their basic theoretical roots with welfarist valuation methods, such as willingness to pay (WTP). Although QALYs and WTP share many challenges, we argue that WTP provides a method which performs better with respect to those challenges. In the context of evaluating alternative allocations of health care resources we are left asking what is 'extra' in extra-welfarism?     

Nutritional status and associated factors among the elderly in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

This cross-sectional study in 2009 focused on the prevalence of underweight and overweight and associated factors in a sample of 621 elderly individuals in Vi?osa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Data were obtained through home interviews on nutritional status and socio-demographic and health conditions. Of the total sample, 53.3% were females. Median BMI was 26.40 kg/m2 (range = 15.20-46.82) and was lower for men than for women. Prevalence of overweight was high (45%; 95%CI: 40%-49%), decreased with age, was positively associated with female gender and history of arthritis/arthrosis, and was negatively associated with age 80 years or older and smoking. Prevalence of underweight was high in men (18.2%), increased with age, and was positively associated with worse self-rated health. The findings highlight the importance of health strategies that favor lifestyle changes and healthy eating habits.     

Why is less money spent on health care for the elderly than for the rest of the population? Health care rationing in German hospitals

The consequences of population ageing for the public health care system and health care costs may be less severe than is commonly assumed. Hospital discharge data from Germany's largest health insurer (AOK) show that the cost of caring for patients during their last year of life makes up a large part of total health expenditures. And this last year of life is less costly if patients die at an advanced age. As a multivariate analysis reveals, oldest old patients as a rule receive less costly treatment than younger patients for the same illness. Moreover, this pattern is more pronounced for elderly women than for elderly men. These findings suggest that health care is informally rationed according to the age and sex of the patient. The data also indicate that there may be more age-related rationing going on in Germany than in the United States. Future research should investigate the national, institutional, and individual factors behind health care rationing. In this paper, I discuss the physician's professional decision as one plausible determinant.     

Is choice of care compatible with integrated health care? An exploratory study in Sweden

Competitive and integrative policy actions are simultaneously being promoted in Swedish primary care; citizens' choice of care is launched while primary care is expected to integrate its activities with other providers for the creation of 'local health care'. Competition tends, however, to fragment the provision of services. The aim of this study is, accordingly, to explore whether or not these policies are compatible in practice. For this purpose, strategically designed group interviews were conducted with citizens. When citizens make active choices, they are under the influence of self-perceived conditions: that is, the accessibility of the care, its continuity and the treatment offered by the care provider, conditions which, in turn, have a lot in common with the guiding principles of local health care. On the other hand, citizens who choose passively, because of not being in contact with primary care, have no difficulties in being disloyal to the chosen unit when becoming patients. In doing so, they also contribute to the fragmentation of local health care. Making entirely free choices when it comes to primary care seems to be incompatible with local health care. However, choice of care only partly equals the conditions of free choice. Choice of care and local health care would thus seem to be compatible, in practice, for the majority of patients.