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International comparison of long‐term care resident dependency across four countries (1998–2009): A descriptive study
Author(s) -
Boyd Michal,
Bowman Clive,
Broad Joanna B,
Connolly Martin J
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2011.00584.x
Subject(s) - long term care , confusion , aged care , dependency (uml) , medicine , nursing homes , descriptive statistics , residential care , gerontology , functional impairment , nursing , psychology , clinical psychology , systems engineering , psychoanalysis , engineering , statistics , mathematics
Aim: To describe an international comparison of dependency of long‐term care residents. Methods: All Auckland aged care residents were surveyed in 1998 and 2008 using the ‘Long‐Term Care in Auckland’ instrument. A large provider of residential aged care, Bupa‐UK, performed a similar but separate functional survey in 2003, again in 2006 (including UK Residential Nursing Home Association facilities), and in 2009 which included Bupa facilities in Spain, New Zealand and Australia. The survey questionnaires were reconciled and functional impairment rates compared. Results: Of almost 90 000 residents, prevalence of dependent mobility ranged from 27 to 47%; chronic confusion, 46 to 75%; and double incontinence, 29 to 49%. Continence trends over time were mixed, chronic confusion increased, and challenging behaviour decreased. Conclusion: Overall functional dependency for residents is high and comparable internationally. Available trends over time indicate increasing resident dependency signifying care required for this population is considerable and possibly increasing.