Lifestyle-related risk factors and risk of future nursing home admission

BACKGROUND: While risks of disease, hospitalization, and death attributable to lifestyle-related factors such as smoking, inactivity, and obesity have been well studied, their associations with nursing home admission are less well known. These risk factors are usually established by middle age, but nothing is known about how they relate to long-term risk of nursing home admission in this age group. METHODS: Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to analyze risk of nursing home admission over 2 decades of follow-up (1971-1975 to 1992) in a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of community-dwelling adults aged 45 to 74 years at baseline. Middle-aged (45-64 years at baseline) and elderly persons (aged 65-74 years at baseline) were analyzed separately: 230 (6.5%) of 3526 middle-aged respondents and 728 (24.7%) of 2936 elderly ones had 1 or more nursing home admissions. Baseline risk factors included smoking, inactivity, obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated total cholesterol level, and diabetes mellitus, which were defined according to national guidelines. RESULTS: All lifestyle-related factors, except total cholesterol level, were associated with higher risk of nursing home admission during follow-up in one or both age groups. Risk ratios were higher in middle-aged than in elderly persons. In those aged 45 to 64 years at baseline, diabetes more than tripled the risk of nursing home admission (relative risk, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.04-5.19); smoking, inactivity, and elevated systolic blood pressure had relative risks of 1.56, 1.40, and 1.35, respectively. Obesity was a risk factor for those aged 65 to 74 years at baseline, but not for the middle-aged subjects. Persons with 2 lifestyle-related factors were at greatly increased risk, especially if 1 was diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors are important contributors to the long-term risk of nursing home admission. Modifying lifestyle, especially in middle age, may reduce the risk of admission.     

Bathing disability and the risk of long-term admission to a nursing home

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of disability in bathing and the likelihood of a long-term nursing home admission increase substantially with age. We performed a prospective study to determine whether the occurrence of persistent disability in bathing is associated with the risk of a long-term nursing home admission, independent of potential confounders, including persistent disability in other essential activities of daily living. METHODS: We studied 754 community-living persons, 70 years old or older, who were nondisabled in four essential activities of daily living. Participants were followed with monthly telephone interviews for a median of 75 months to determine the occurrence of persistent (i.e., present for at least 2 consecutive months) disability in bathing and the time to the first long-term nursing home admission, defined as longer than 3 months. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen (15.0%) participants had a long-term nursing home admission. At least one episode of persistent bathing disability occurred among 59 (52.2%) participants with a long-term nursing home admission and 210 (32.8%) without a long-term admission (p <.001). In a proportional hazards model that was fully adjusted for potential confounders, the occurrence of persistent bathing disability increased the risk of a long-term nursing home admission by 77% (hazard ratio 1.77, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 2.98), but had no effect on the risk of a short-term nursing home admission (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 1.49). CONCLUSIONS: Among community-living older persons, the occurrence of persistent disability in bathing is independently associated with the risk of a long-term nursing home admission, but has no effect on short-term admissions. Interventions directed at the prevention and remediation of bathing disability have the potential to reduce the burden and expense of long-term care services.     

Modifiable risk factors for nursing home admission among individuals with high and low dementia risk

BackgroundStrategies to prevent or delay nursing home admission in individuals with cognitive impairment are urgently needed. We hypothesized that physical inactivity, not consuming alcohol (as opposed to moderate alcohol use), and having a history of smoking predict nursing home admission among individuals with normal cognitive function, but these behavioral factors would have attenuated associations with nursing home admission among individuals with impaired cognition.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study among 7631 Health and Retirement Study participants aged 65+ at baseline. Baseline dementia risk (high versus low, based on brief psychometric assessments and proxy reports) and modifiable risk factors (physical inactivity, ever smoking, and not consuming alcohol) were used to predict nursing home admission in pooled logistic regression models. We evaluated whether estimated effects of modifiable factors varied by dementia risk, comparing both relative and absolute effects using interaction terms between dementia risk and each modifiable risk factor.ResultsLow dementia probability was associated with lower nursing home admission risk (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.59). Physical inactivity (RR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.41), ever smoking (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.25), and not consuming alcohol (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.45) predicted increased relative risk of nursing home admission regardless of cognitive status. The relative effects of modifiable risk factors were similar for those with low and high dementia risk.ConclusionAlthough cognitive impairment associated with incipient dementia strongly predicts nursing home admission, this risk can be partially ameliorated with modifiable risk factors such as physical activity.     

The influence of intergenerational exchange on nursing home admission in Taiwan

This study examines the effect of intergenerational exchange on nursinghome admissions among functionally disabled older adults in Taiwan. A groupof 317 nursing home residents were randomly selected from all nursing homesin Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. In addition, two community groups wererandomly selected as multiple controls in the study. The results showed thatintergenerational exchange has a statistically significant effect onnursing home admission after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and health status. The odds of being admitted into a nursing home was lower for those elderly who provided instrumentalassistance to their families before they were disabled. The adjustedrelative risk estimate was 0.2 (95% CI = 0.1 - 0.6). It showsthat the instrumental assistance the elderly provided to the family beforethey became disabled was reciprocated when they needed ADL assistance. Thisfinding provides strong support for the social exchange theory.     

The risk factors of nursing home entry among residents of six continuing care retirement communities

We identified client characteristics related to nursing home entry for 3,316 residents of six continuing care retirement communities with a longitudinal dataset that follows an initially healthy entry cohort for up to 15 years. The Cox Proportional Hazards Model was used for the analysis of survival data that includes censored data. We calculated hazard indices for residents with different characteristics to show the independent effect of these variables on the probability of nursing home entry. Seven variables emerged as statistically significant covariates: sex, marital status, roommate status, entry year into the community, entry age into the community, number of hospitalizations, and community of residence. The community of residence, which in large part reflects system effects on nursing home entry, was found to be the single most important variable explaining variance in the data. Tobit analysis was used to examine the factors associated with multiple nursing home entries and total days per year spent in a nursing home. With a few exceptions, most of the variables listed above were also significant correlates of multiple entries and total days per year spent in a nursing home.     

High-risk profiles for nursing home admission.

A statewide probability sample of 1,625 Massachusetts elderly was studied prospectively over a decade to identify risk profiles for long-term care (LTC) institutionalization. Previous admission to a LTC institution, age, basic ADL disability, and restricted outside mobility were the strongest individual predictors of institutionalization. Examining profiles of risk factors dramatically increased the ability to predict 10-year risk of admission.     

Depressive symptoms in older people predict nursing home admission

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the power of several self-reported depressive symptoms to predict nursing home admission (NHA). DESIGN: A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of NHA. SETTING: Data were from the Health Outcomes Survey (a national random sample of 137,000 Medicare + Choice enrollees aged 65 and older), the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set, and the Medicare Enrollment Database. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older enrolled in a Medicare Managed Care Plan who were self-respondents to the questionnaire and were not institutionalized at the time of the survey. MEASUREMENTS: Variables were self-reported functional status, chronic health conditions, demographics, and several mood-related questions. RESULTS: After controlling for age, race, sex, marital status, home ownership, functional status, and comorbid conditions, individuals who identified themselves as feeling sad or depressed much of the time over the previous year were at significantly higher risk of NHA. CONCLUSION: A single question about depressive symptoms can be used to identify individuals at higher risk of NHA. There may be benefit from better screening and treatment of depression in community-based older people. Depression and social support may be linked. This study was targeted and did not attempt to explain everything that affects NHA. Investigation of the relationship between social support, depression, and NHA should be considered in future research.     

Recent trends in advance directives at nursing home admission and one year after admission

PURPOSE: Advance directives are important planning and decision-making tools for individuals in nursing homes. DESIGN AND METHODS: By using the nursing facility Minimum Data Set, we examined the prevalence of advance directives at admission and 12 months post-admission. RESULTS: The prevalence of having any advance directive at admission declined slightly from 2000 to 2004, whereas the prevalence of having any advanced directive at 12 months after admission increased slightly during the same period. Compared with admissions, residents at 12 months post-admission were more likely to have their decisions made by family members and to have advance directives of any type. IMPLICATIONS: The results suggest that greater use of advance directives in nursing homes may depend on additional information and support from nursing facility personnel and the health and social services professionals who are in contact with individuals moving toward nursing home admission, as well as those who remain in facilities over time.     

Case management and risk of nursing home admission for older adults in home care: results of the AgeD in HOme Care Study

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between a case management approach and the risk of institutionalization in a large European population of frail, old people in home care. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Eleven European countries. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand two hundred ninety-two older adults receiving home care (mean age 82.3+/-7.3). MEASUREMENTS: Data on nursing home admission were collected every 6 months for 1 year. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred eighty-four (36%) persons received a home care program based on case management, and 2,108 (64%) received a traditional care approach (no case manager). During the 1-year follow-up, 81 of 1,184 clients (6.8%) in the case management group and 274 of 2,108 (13%) in the traditional care group were admitted to a nursing home (P<.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of nursing home admission was significantly lower for participants in the case management group than for those in a traditional care model (adjusted odds ratio=0.56, 95% confidence interval=0.43-0.63). CONCLUSION: Home care services based on a case management approach reduce risk of institutionalization and likely lower costs.     

Quality of medical information on admission to a nursing home

In this paper one aspect of social relation in health and social service is investigated by means of documentation analysis: the quality of medical information on admission to a nursing home. In 6% of all cases (n = 120) the nursing home received detailed data on the diagnosis and therapy, the status praesens and on the clinical symptoms, on the social and psychological situation of the aged person in need of care and his/her clinical parameters. With 6% the basic data (name, date of birth, diagnosis) were incomplete. With 66.7% the data were available on the day of admission. There was no dependence on age, sex and stage of care of the person in need of care. The data were less extensive if the person in need of care was referred to from an out-patient department and inquiries could not be made with him/her or his/her relatives/acquaintances. An improvement of this situation is possible if the cooperation between hitherto attending doctor, the care institution of the municipal district for aged people and the nursing home is coordinated better.     

The risk for nursing home admission (NHA) did not change in ten years--a prospective cohort study with five-year follow-up

In an aging population the burden on health care systems depends on the proportion of lifetime spent in good or poor health. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a ten-year cohort difference on NHA, indicating changes in lifetime spent without severe disabilities. Additionally, important risk factors for NHA were identified. The data were obtained from two cohort studies of elderly people. Cohort A (1991-1993) comprised 74+ patients from 20 German general practices and cohort B (2002-2003) 70+ patients from 14 general practices. The merged sample consisted of 2301 community dwelling patients that contacted their general practitioner within a 12-month period during the respective enquiry period. After an initial assessment at study entry, participants were monitored over a five-year period respective NHA and death. The Cox proportional hazards model was used including socio-epidemic data, state of health, chronic diseases, dementia, health system usage, and social support. The ten-year cohort-difference was no predictor of NHA within a 5-year period. Significant influencing variables were: age (OR 1.10), living with others (OR 0.59), no auxiliary person (OR 1.69), mild forgetfulness (OR 2.12), clear cognitive impairment (OR 3.74), severe cognitive disturbance (3.61), loss of memory (11.83), walking difficulties (OR 1.53), impaired vision (OR 1.90), and cancer (OR 0.22). This study could not find a cohort effect on NHA. With regard to increased life expectancy the findings do not support the compression of morbidity hypothesis. The identified influencing variables contribute to the understanding of NHA risk factors.     

Resident contact with family and friends following nursing home admission

PURPOSE: This study explored factors that are related to the level of contact (number of visits and calls) between newly admitted nursing home residents and their family and friends. In addition to reexamining factors studied previously, several new factors were explored: contact level prior to nursing home placement, dementia status, and resident race. DESIGN AND METHODS: Interviews were conducted with the significant others of 1,441 residents from a representative sample of nursing homes in Maryland. RESULTS: Contact decreased by approximately half following admission, compared to reported preadmission contact. Rates of contact are positively related to nonuse of Medicaid, kinship closeness, support network proximity, nondemented status, and White race. After controlling for preadmission contact, postadmission contact is positively associated with kinship closeness, support network proximity, nondemented status, and White race. IMPLICATIONS: The study identifies factors that are useful to consider when designing interventions to increase family involvement with nursing home residents.     

Caregiver burden and nursing home admission of frail elderly persons.

The National Long-Term Care Survey, 1982-1984, and the Informal Caregivers Survey were used to test the importance of caregiver burden for risk of admission to a nursing home. This study was based on a subsample of 940 older persons with sole spouse or adult child caregivers in 1982. Using logistic regression, nursing home entrants (127) were compared to 624 continuous community residents. Characteristics of the older person included age, race (White), and number of instrumental activities of daily living limitations. Predictors related to the caregiving context included caregiver burden and use of formal services.     

Predictors of nursing home admission for older adults hospitalized with heart failure

The objective of this retrospective chart review study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of nursing home admission of older hospitalized heart failure patients. Subjects were Medicare beneficiaries discharged with a principal diagnosis of heart failure in 1994 in the state of Alabama, United States. The outcome variable was admission to a nursing home after hospital discharge. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses we determined patient and care variables independently associated with admission to a nursing home. Patients (n = 985) had a mean (+/- S.D.) age of 79 (+/- 7.5) years, 61% were female and 18% African-American. Eighty-three (8%) patients were admitted to a nursing home. Over 80% of those admitted to a nursing home had prior nursing home residence. After adjustment for various demographic, clinical and care variables, age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.06-1.23), pre-admission residence in a nursing home (adjusted OR = 1422; 95%CI = 341-5923), and length of hospital stay (adjusted OR = 1.11; 95%CI = 1.02-1.20) were independently associated with admission to a nursing home. Among patients with no prior nursing home residency (n = 908), 15 (2%) patients were newly admitted to a nursing home upon discharge. In addition to age and length of stay, diabetes (adjusted OR = 6.46; 95%CI = 1.58-26.41) was independently associated with new admission to a nursing home. In conclusion, nursing home admission rate for this cohort of older hospitalized heart failure patients was low. Age, length of hospital stay, and diabetes were associated with new nursing home admissions. Further studies are needed to identify modifiable risk factors for nursing home admissions and to develop appropriate interventions.     

Informal caregivers and the risk of nursing home admission among individuals enrolled in the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly

PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether participants in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) with an informal caregiver have a higher or lower risk of nursing home admission than those without caregivers. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a secondary data analysis of 3,189 participants aged 55 years or older who were enrolled in 11 PACE programs during the period from June 1, 1990 through June 30, 1998. Cox proportional hazard models determined whether having any caregiver, as well as specific caregiver characteristics, such as either living separately from the enrollee, being over the age of 75 years, providing personal care, not reducing or quitting work to provide care, or not being a spouse, predicted time to nursing home admission. RESULTS: Fewer than half of the participants (49.4%) lived with a caregiver, and 12.4% had no caregiver. Individuals who lived with their caregiver were frailer than either those who lived separately or those without a caregiver. We measured frailty in terms of functional and cognitive status, incontinence, and multiple behavioral disturbances. The presence of a caregiver did not change the risk for institutionalization. None of the caregiver characteristics were associated with a higher risk of nursing home admission. IMPLICATIONS: Unlike individuals in the general population, participants in PACE who lack an informal caregiver are not at higher risk of institutionalization. Further research is required to ascertain whether PACE's comprehensive formal services compensate for the lack of informal caregiving in limiting the risk for institutionalization.     

Characteristics predicting nursing home admission in the program of all-inclusive care for elderly people

PURPOSE: This study determined overall risk and predictors of long-term nursing home admission within the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). DESIGN AND METHODS: DataPACE records for 4,646 participants aged 55 years or older who were enrolled in 12 Medicare- and Medicaid-capitated PACE programs during the period from June 1, 1990, to June 30, 1998, were obtained. Participants were enrolled for at least 30 days and had baseline evaluations within 30 days of enrollment. Cox proportional hazard models predicting an outcome of nursing home admission of 30 days or longer were estimated. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of admission to nursing homes for 30 days or longer was 14.9% within 3 years. Individuals enrolled from a nursing home were at very high risk for future admission, with a relative risk of 5.20 when compared with those living alone. Among individuals enrolled in PACE from the community, age, instrumental activity of daily living dependence, and bowel incontinence were predictive of subsequent nursing home admission. Asians and Blacks had a lower risk of institutionalization than Whites. However, other characteristics were not independently predictive of institutionalization, namely poor cognitive status, number of chronic conditions, activity of daily living deficits, urinary incontinence, several behavioral disturbances, and duration of program operation. Before adjusting for other variables, there was substantial site variability in risk of nursing home admission; this decreased considerably after other characteristics were adjusted for. IMPLICATIONS: Despite the fact that 100% of the PACE participants were nursing home certifiable, the risk of being admitted to a nursing home long term following enrollment from the community is low. The presence of some reversible risk factors may have implications for early intervention to reduce risk further, although the effect of these interventions is likely to be modest. Individuals who received long-term care in a nursing home prior to enrollment in PACE remain at high risk of readmission, despite the availability of comprehensive services.