Maintaining oral hydration in older adults living in residential aged care facilities

Background The Clinical Fellowship program was developed to address the need for best practice in aged care and therefore improve outcomes for residents in Residential Aged Care. The project chosen for this program was Oral Hydration with the aim of improving the hydration status of Nursing Home residents and management of those at risk of dehydration. Method The clinical audit tool used was the Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI-PACES). This tool allows measurement of current practice against best practice. The Getting Research into Practice program was then used to address non-compliance with best practice. This program requires consultation with key stakeholders to identify limitations to achieving best practice and plan action to address these limitations where possible. Conclusion While 100% compliance with all audit criteria was not achieved, strategies to improve current practice were identified and are in the process of being implemented. The tools developed by The JBI have been beneficial in identifying, measuring and implementing best practice. The process has the potential to contribute to improved resident outcomes and best practice in residential aged care through clinical audit and feedback.     

Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes

In the UK and Europe, malnutrition in older people is a significant and continuing problem. Malnutrition predisposes to disease, impedes recovery from illness, increases mortality and is costly to society. Despite the high number of older people potentially at risk, malnutrition in care homes has been under explored. There is concern that national guidelines regarding the nutritional care of older people in residential care homes are not always implemented. This qualitative study explored the factors that influence the nutritional care provided to residents in two different types of local authority residential care homes (providing personal care) in Wales. One home had communal dining rooms; the other had eight bedded units with their own kitchen and dining facilities. The sample of 45 participants, comprised 19 staff (managers, care and catering staff), 16 residents and 10 residents' relatives. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, observation and documentary review between August 2009 and January 2010. This paper focuses on how staff assessed and addressed residents' nutritional needs. In both care homes, staff strove to be responsive to residents' dietary preferences, provided person-centred care and worked in partnership with residents and their families to provide nutritious food in a homely environment. Neither home conducted nutritional screening to identify those at risk of malnutrition, contrary to national guidelines, but relied on ad hoc observation and monitoring. The staff's knowledge of special dietary needs was limited. A need for further training for care home staff regarding the importance of nutrition in maintaining health in older people, use of nutritional screening and special dietary needs was identified. Shared nutrition training between health and social care staff needs expansion and policy implications in terms of an enhanced regulatory focus on maintaining nutritional needs in care homes are proposed.     

Nurse practitioners in primary care

OBJECTIVES: Recent policy emphasizing the role of primary care has increased the workload of general practitioners (GPs) while simultaneously placing nurse practitioners (NPs) as key providers in the delivery of health care. There is need to examine the latter's work practices. The purpose of this article is to explore the role and practice of NPs in general practice. METHODS: DESIGN: Thirty-six semi-structured interviews with GPs, NPs, receptionists and patients were analysed. SETTING: Four general practices in south-east England. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data from semi-structured interviews relating to allocation, prescribing and referral practices of NPs in primary care. RESULTS: These include the differences in presenting problems of patients seen by GPs and NPs, prescribing and referral practice and legal issues of the nurse practitioner. A wide range of practice is reported. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the variation in how patients are allocated for NP consultation and in NP autonomy, prescribing and referral, which raises issues for clinical governance of protocols and risk management.     

Improving the oral health of older adults with dementia/cognitive impairment living in a residential aged care facility

Background Studies conducted in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) indicate that high levels of oral diseases and conditions are prevalent in older adults who have dementia. Poor oral health impacts on eating ability, weight, speech, hydration, severity of behavioural problems, appearance and social interactions. This study looked at a group of older adults with dementia in a RACF site in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. It is known that in nursing home residents with dementia dental pain and problems are under-detected and under-treated. Strategy An audit was conducted to assess the level of compliance of the RACFs oral hygiene care practices with established best practice. The audit questions were based on current best practice as identified from a rigorous international systematic review of the subject. A clinical audit software program (The Joanna Briggs Institute, Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI PACES)) was used to manage the audit. An audit, feedback, re-audit cycle was followed. Stakeholders of the project were identified from which a Project team was formed. The Project team analysed the results of the first audit, conducted a situational analysis and formulated and implemented a strategic plan to target specific criteria for a change management process. Short-term and longer-term strategies were identified. Those criteria targeted as achievable in the short term were then re-audited after 6?weeks to determine the effectiveness of the change management process. Findings The criterion Daily cleaning and night-time removal of dentures are documented was re-audited and although there was a slight increase in compliance across the site this increase was not statistically significant. The criterion Resident's dentures are individually marked was re-audited and showed a large increase in compliance across the site, this increase was statistically significant.     

Medical care in Australian residential aged care: Perspectives of residents,family, nurses and general practitioners

The importance of residential aged care facility (RACF)’s medical care is growing, driven by world-wide demographic trends in ageing populations. Despite this, there is a paucity of research into this care delivery from the perspective of those most involved. This study aimed to identify the enablers of and barriers to satisfactory RACF medical care by focusing on the general practitioner (GP) visit in the experience of residents, their family, registered nurses (RNs) and GPs. A multi-site case study was conducted at four purposively chosen RACFs in rural and regional New South Wales, Australia. Data derived from semi-structured interviews with 35 randomly selected aforementioned stakeholders and conducted in 2017 were evaluated using thematic, specifically framework analysis. The study's first key finding was related to the care team and to care recipients. It was evident that the quality of the RN–GP interprofessional collaboration was important for satisfactory care delivery. However, the care team was observed to additionally include RACF care staff and family members. Families were also in need of care. The study's second key finding was related to continuity of care. The interpersonal continuity of care provided by the existing GP continuing a new resident's care was beneficial. Informational continuity of care was found to be important but often disrupted by patient's information being initially unavailable, then fragmented and stored in different places. Medication management systems when accessed were poorly organised, time consuming and complex. This research suggests two useful new paradigms for residential aged care. The first is a re-envisaging of the resident care team to include the RN, GP, family and care staff, and those needing care to include residents and family. Secondly, care teams informed by interpersonal and informational continuity of care, and satisfactory resident care appears inextricably and positively linked.     

Health-related Quality of Life among hospitalized older people awaiting residential aged care

Background  

Health related quality of life (HRQoL) in very late life is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to assess HRQoL and health outcomes at four months follow-up in a group of older people awaiting transfer to residential aged care.     

The prevention and management of constipation in older adults in a residential aged care facility

The need to implement programs for developing leadership and practice improvement skills using an evidence-based practice approach to practice change is becoming more apparent in the health and aged care services. This is no more apparent than in high care residential health and aged care services, where health professionals are increasingly required to provide care for older people with multifocal and complex healthcare needs. This paper describes one of the projects undertaken as part of the Joanna Briggs Institute Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Clinical Aged Care Fellowship program from February 2005 to June 2005. This purpose of this particular project was twofold. First it sought to improve the local practice in the prevention and management of constipation and that this practice was performed according to the best available evidence. Second to use the Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Guidance (PACES) program to implement a process of audit and feedback as a strategy to improve practice. The project was designed to link in with the facility's existing quality improvement program and better practice continence management project. The project was conducted over 6?months and was divided into six stages involving the identification of evidence-based standards of care, an initial audit to determine appropriate sample size, a clinical audit across the facility, planning of the implementation process, implementation of the action plan and re-audit to assess practice change. Overall, the results were extremely positive and demonstrated a real improvement in practice relating to constipation in the project facility. This success, however, needs to be seen in the context of the benefits of having the support of senior management, an existing quality improvement and continence management better practice project, and a culture of clinical review. Although there will always be more work to be done, the success of this project can be viewed in terms of the improvements gained and the long-term benefits for the facility and the organisation using the time-efficient audit and feedback strategy.     

Nurse practitioners to provide primary care in HMO project

Oxford Health Plans is courting controversy--and hoping to reduce demand--with a pilot program that allows members to choose nurse practitioners as primary care providers. The HMO pays the NPs directly--at the same rates as it pays physicians.     

C-Reactive protein and lipid parameters in older persons aged 80 years and older

Objectives  Aims of the study were 1) to investigate the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) with lipid (i.e. total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) concentrations, and to evaluate their predictive value for mortality in very old subjects. Design  Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in a prospective cohort study. Setting  Participants. Data are from 336 community-dwelling subjects aged ≥80 years old enrolled in the “Invecchiamento e Longevità nel Sirente” (ilSIRENTE) study. Measurements  High sensitivity CRP and lipid concentrations were measured at the baseline clinical visit. High sensitivity CRP concentrations were measured by ELISA assessment. Mortality outcome was evaluated over a 24-month follow-up. Results  Participants had a mean age of 85.8 (SD 4.8) years old. Spearman’s correlations showed significant (p values <0.01) inverse correlations between CRP and lipid parameters (except triglycerides). Adjusted linear regressions between CRP and lipid parameters concentrations showed no significant association in participants aged lower than 85 years old (all p values >0.5). In the older age group, significant inverse associations of CRP with total (p=0.002), LDL (p=0.007), and HDL cholesterol (p=0.002) were found, even after adjustment for potential confounders. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models demonstrated that CRP was the only biomarker significantly predictive of mortality, independently of age and lipid parameters. Conclusion  An inverse relationship of total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol with CRP is present in very old persons. The prognostic value of CRP is particularly important among very old persons whereas lipid parameters tend to lose their capacity to predict events.     

The care and health needs of children in residential care in the Maltese Islands

OBJECTIVES: To survey the health needs of children in residential care in the Mediterranean Islands of Malta and Gozo. SETTING: Thirteen children's Residential Homes in the Maltese Islands. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional interview survey. METHODS: Carers at the Residential Homes were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire between June and November 1996. Data related to all the children resident in the homes at the time of the interview were collected including socio-demographic factors, reasons for admission to care, medical needs and medical services received. RESULTS: In all, 309 children, aged birth-16 years-equivalent to 4.2/1000 Maltese children-were in residential care at the time of the study. Fifty-three per cent were boys and 52% were < 8 years of age. The most common reasons for admission into residential care were single parenthood (25%), separated parents and parents unable to offer adequate care (19% each). Admission 'medicals' rarely included a developmental assessment or use of growth charts. Medical and developmental examinations were not carried out on a regular basis and children were medically examined only when required. Dental check-ups were performed more regularly; 30% of the children had a dental check-up every 6 months. Behavioural problems were common affecting 20.7% of all children, followed by chronic bronchial asthma which was present in 7.4%. Developmental delay (global or specific) was reported in 23.3% of children under the age of 4. CONCLUSIONS: Residential care is the predominant form of substitute care for disadvantaged children in Malta and Gozo. The demography of the child population in Residential Homes in these Islands is different from that in other countries, in that 52% of children in residential care are < 8 years of age compared to proportionately more adolescents in other countries. Medical supervision is minimal. A standardised medical and developmental assessment should be established as an essential part of this form of substitute care.     

Advance care planning for older people in Australia presenting to the emergency department from the community or residential aged care facilities

The purpose of this retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to determine the prevalence of advance care planning (ACP) among older people presenting to an Emergency Department (ED) from the community or a residential aged care facility. The study sample comprised 300 older people (aged 65+ years) presenting to three Victorian EDs in 2011. A total of 150 patients transferred from residential aged care to ED were randomly selected and then matched to 150 people who lived in the community and attended the ED by age, gender, reason for ED attendance and triage category on arrival. Overall prevalence of ACP was 13.3% (n = 40/300); over one‐quarter (26.6%, n = 40/150) of those presenting to the ED from residential aged care had a documented Advance Care Plan, compared to none (0%, n = 0/150) of the people from the community. There were no significant differences in the median ED length of stay, number of investigations and interventions undertaken in ED, time seen by a doctor or rate of hospital admission for those with an Advance Care Plan compared to those without. Those with a comorbidity of cerebrovascular disease or dementia and those assessed with impaired brain function were more likely to have a documented Advance Care Plan on arrival at ED. Length of hospital stay was shorter for those with an Advance Care Plan [median (IQR) = 3 days (2–6) vs. 6 days (2–10), P = 0.027] and readmission lower (0% vs. 13.7%). In conclusion, older people from the community transferred to ED were unlikely to have a documented Advance Care Plan. Those from residential aged care who were cognitively impaired more frequently had an Advance Care Plan. In the ED, decisions of care did not appear to be influenced by the presence or absence of Advance Care Plans, but length of hospital admission was shorter for those with an Advance Care Plan.     

Nursing care needs of the caregiver of persons under palliative care

The purpose was to identify needs for nursing care of caregiver of the person in the terminal stage and nursing interventions, using a systematic review of the literature. A research in EBSCO and ProQuest and sought Full Text scientific articles, published between 1998 and 2008, using the following keywords: "Palliative care", "Family", "Nursing" and "Needs" was made. The method PI[C]OD was used to select 14 items of total 77. The care needs the person in the terminal stage are: communication, relationship of trust and security, recognition and operationalization of desires; preparation for mourning; needs for information, training, involvement in care, emotional needs, spiritual needs and resting needs. It was concluded that the family has different needs that require personal intervention of the nurse, through the establishment of a trust relationship.