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Purpose: The aim of this study was to translate the evidence-based Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II intervention for use in 4 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). A secondary aim was to examine possible moderators of treatment outcome. Design and Methods: We used a quasi-experimental pre-post treatment design with no control group. A partnership was formed between the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the University of Alabama. The partnership trimmed the REACH II intervention used in the clinical trial for feasible use in a social service agency. The condensed REACH intervention, termed REACH OUT, was delivered to 272 dementia caregivers during 4 home visits and 3 phone calls for a period of 4 months. The assessment examined pre-post treatment effects on a number of outcomes, including care recipient risk, mood, memory, and behavior problems; caregiver stress and emotional well-being; caregiver health; and program satisfaction. All aspects of the program except for training, periodic consultation, and data analysis were controlled by the AAA staff. Results: Analyses were conducted on the 236 dyads that completed at least 3 of the 4 planned sessions. Significant positive pre-post effects were found on caregiver subjective burden, social support, caregiver frustration, depression, caregiver health, care recipient behavior problems and mood, and 2 of 4 care recipient risk behaviors. Site of intervention and certain participant characteristics (e.g., caregiver relationship) moderated several pre-post differences. A caregiver survey and interventionist focus group reported high acceptability of the program. Implications: This project suggests that the REACH II intervention can be modified for feasible and effective use in AAAs. The next step is to integrate the intervention into usual service delivery to achieve sustainability.

Purpose: Agitation frequently accompanies cognitive decline among nursing home residents. This study used cross-sectional and longitudinal (up to 18 months) methods to examine agitation among profoundly and moderately impaired residents using both staff report and direct observation methods. Design and Methods: The study included participants (N = 78) from a larger study who completed either 12 or 18 months of data collection. There were four measurement points, each separated by 6-month intervals. We recorded agitation using two measures: (a) the computer-assisted behavioral observation system (CABOS) and (b) the staff-completed Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale. We used longitudinal hierarchical linear modeling to capture the dynamic nature of behavior change as a function of individual resident characteristics and time. Results: The profoundly cognitively impaired residents (M Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score = 1.7) displayed more agitation than the moderately impaired group (M MMSE score = 15.4) at Epoch 1 (cross-sectional analyses). Longitudinal analysis found a significant linear and quadratic trend only with the profoundly impaired residents using the CABOS. These residents showed slight improvements in agitation up to 12 months, with agitation increasing significantly from 12 to 18 months. Implications: With nursing homes receiving an increasing number of profoundly cognitively impaired residents, these results have potential cost and policy implications. Measuring agitation over time by using both staff report and observation measures presents various problems, and we present an alternative measure that may help to avoid these difficulties. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.) [Preparation of the article was partially supported by The University of Alabama and the Center for Mental Health and Aging.]

Purpose: We developed and evaluated an explicit procedure for obtaining self-report pain data from nursing home residents across a broad range of cognitive status, and we evaluated the consistency, stability, and concurrent validity of resident responses. Design and Methods: Using a modification of the Geriatric Pain Measure (GPM-M2), we interviewed 61 residents from two nursing homes (Mini-Mental State Examination score, M = 15 plus or minus 7) once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. We collected additional data by means of chart review, cognitive status assessments, and surveys of certified nursing assistants. We used descriptive and correlational analyses to address our primary aims. Results: Eighty-nine percent of residents completed all four scheduled interviews. Cognitive status was not significantly correlated with number of nonresponses and prompts for yes-no questions, but it was significantly correlated with nonresponses and prompts for Likert-scale questions (r = -0.48, p less than 0.001 and r = -0.59, p less than 0.001, respectively). Completion time for the 17-item pain measure (M = 13 min) was not predicted by cognitive status. Residents' scores on the GPM-M2 were significantly correlated with number of chronic pain-associated diagnoses, r = 0.37, p less than 0.01, and internal consistency was excellent, alpha = 0.87 - 0.91. Residents' GPM-M2 scores were stable over time, r =0.74 - 0.80, p less than 0.0001, for all comparisons. Implications: Using explicit protocols and reporting procedural data allows researchers and clinicians to better understand and apply results of self-report studies with cognitively impaired elders. Results suggest that many nursing home residents can provide consistent and reliable self-report pain data, given appropriate time and assistance. (Contains 3 tables.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine group differences in verbal agitation, verbal interaction, bed restraint, pain, analgesic and neuroleptic medication use, and medical comorbidity among agitated nursing home residents who died during a 6-month clinical trial compared with residents of the same gender and similar initial cognitive status who did not die during the trial. Design and Methods: We conducted a two-group secondary data analysis of prospective observational data from 10 nursing homes in Birmingham, Alabama. By means of chart review, resident assessments, surveys of certified nursing assistants, and direct observation of residents' daily behaviors and environment, 32 residents (87.34 [+ or -] 7.29 years) with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score = 4.31 ([+ or -]5.54) who died were compared with 32 residents (84 [+ or -] 6.96 years) with a mean MMSE score = 4.28 ([+ or -] 5.49) who did not die during the clinical trial. Results: Residents who died displayed more verbal agitation, less time in verbal interaction with staff, and almost twice as much time restrained in bed during observation time in comparison with residents who did not die during the clinical trial. However, groups did not differ significantly in severity of comorbid illness, functional status, number of painful diagnoses, certified nursing assistants' reports of residents' pain, or opioid or nonopioid analgesic prescription or dosage. Surviving residents were more likely to receive neuroleptic medication than residents who died. Implications: Results suggest that agitated nursing home residents may exhibit a heightened level of verbal agitation, decreased verbal interaction with staff, and increased bed restraint up to 3 months prior to death. Prospective observational studies are needed to identify markers for imminent mortality among nursing home residents.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare a variety of resident and staff outcomes across two types of staffing patterns, permanent and rotating assignment, and work shift. Although studies have examined these staffing patterns as part of multicomponent intervention packages, few studies have examined the isolated effects of staffing pattern by using an experimental design. Design and Methods: A between-groups comparison design was used to compare residents and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) from four nursing homes; two self-identified as using permanent assignment (PA) staffing and two as using rotating assignment (RA) staffing. Measures yielded data on verbal interaction among residents and staff, resident disruptive behavior, and specific aspects of resident-staff behavior during care routines. Other assessments included resident personal appearance and hygiene, expressed affect, and CNAs' job satisfaction, burnout, absenteeism, and turnover rates. A treatment fidelity check was conducted to confirm PA and RA staffing patterns. Results: Staffing patterns were significantly different between self-identified PA and RA nursing homes. Residents in PA nursing homes and on morning shifts received significantly higher ratings of personal appearance and hygiene. Rates of expressed sadness and interest among residents differed by staffing patterns and shift. However, these differences do not appear to be clinically significant. Although absenteeism was higher in PA nursing homes, these CNAs reported greater job satisfaction than CNAs from RA nursing homes. As expected, evening shifts across nursing homes had significantly higher turnover rates and significantly more resident disruptive behavior. Implications: Quality-of-care outcomes were similar among the two types of nursing homes, despite significantly different staffing patterns. Though staff permanency rates in PA nursing homes (50%) were twice that of RA nursing homes (26%), more research is needed to determine feasibility of higher rates of staff permanency (i.e., > 50%) and effects on resident and CNA outcomes.

Purpose: We developed manual-guided, replicable interventions based on common needs and cultural preferences of White and African American family caregivers (CGs) of individuals with dementia, and we evaluated these interventions after a 6-month follow-up. Design and Methods: We randomly assigned White (n = 70) and African American (n = 48) CGs of individuals with dementia to either a skills training condition or a minimal support control condition. Results: The degree of treatment implementation was methodically assessed, and findings demonstrated that both interventions were delivered according to protocol and were well received by CGs. CGs in both groups reported decreasing levels of problem behaviors and appraisals of behavioral bother, and increased satisfaction with leisure activities over time. On a measure of appraisal of distress related to behavior problems, White CGs showed more improvement in the minimal support control condition, and African American CGs showed the greatest improvements in the skills training condition. Spouse and nonspouse CGs also showed differential responses to intervention. Implications: Brief manual-guided interventions can be effective with White and African American CGs, and greater attention should be paid to possible differential responses to interventions by race and relationship to care recipient.

Reports the results of a consensus meeting convened to provide guidelines for clinicians and make recommendations for researchers regarding disruptive vocalization (DV). Suggests that DV arises largely in persons with cognitive impairment and generally reflects an underlying need or discomfort. Managing DV involves appropriate identification of all possible factors. (RJM)

Presented residents of life care community and nursing homes with scenarios of older woman. Client varied by cognitive capacity and behavior problem (aggression, verbal abuse, noncompliance). Participants rated three treatments: differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI), time-out, and haloperidol. All treatments were acceptable; DRI was most acceptable. Haloperidol and time-out ratings varied by client's cognitive status. (Author/NB)

Various staff behaviors in nursing home were sampled 7 times a day, 5 days a week over 37 months and were coded separately for registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nurses' aides (NAs). Found LPNs displayed significantly more patient care behaviors and NAs significantly more nonwork behaviors than other nursing staff. RNs displayed least nonwork behaviors. (Author/NB)

Asserts that, if long-term care is to progress from custodial model to therapeutic model of rehabilitation, role of nursing assistants must be redesigned. Reviews current methods of institutional staff training and management and proposes model for geriatric, long-term care facilities. Discusses organizational resistance and offers suggestions for enhancing cooperation. (Author/NB)

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to test the stress process model (SPM; Pearlin, Mullan, Semple, & Skaff, 1990) in a racially diverse sample of Alzheimer's caregivers (CGs) using structural equation modeling (SEM) and regression techniques. A secondary aim was to examine race or ethnicity as a moderator of the relation between latent constructs (e.g., subjective stressors and role strain) in the SPM. Sample: Participants included White or Caucasian (n = 212), Black or African American (n = 201), and Hispanic or Latino (n = 196) Alzheimer's CGs from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II clinical trial. Results: SEM revealed that the Pearlin model obtains a satisfactory fit across race or ethnicity in the REACH II data, despite significant racial differences in each of the latent constructs. Race or ethnicity moderated the impact of resources on intrapsychic strain, such that CGs reported similar intrapsychic strain across race at lower levels of resources, but White or Caucasian CGs reported more intrapsychic strain than Black or African American or Hispanic or Latino CGs when resources are higher. Implications: Strengths and weaknesses for each race or ethnicity vary considerably, suggesting that interventions must target different aspects of the stress process to provide optimal benefit for individuals of different cultural or ethnic backgrounds. Key Words: Race or ethnicity, Stress process, Caregiving, Alzheimer's disease

Rural dwelling elders who experience mental health problems often have difficulty finding help since rural communities often lack adequate mental health service providers. This paper reports on the initial phase of a 5-year, interdisciplinary clinical research study that is testing the effectiveness of providing a home delivered, therapeutic psychosocial intervention, aimed at improving the emotional well-being and the quality of life of medically frail elders who live in rural communities. In the early phases of this study, the clinical research team encountered a number of interesting and often unanticipated challenges as it attempted to recruit study participants and provide services to them. In this article, we examine these challenges and share what we have learned so far about providing mental health services to elderly persons living in rural environments. doi:10.1300/J083v48n03_05 KEYWORDS. Rural environments, mental health services, psychosocial intervention, interdisciplinary

We examined differences in positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) among 275 African American and 343 Caucasian caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease from the National Institutes of Health Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Care Health (REACH) study sites in Birmingham, Memphis, and Philadelphia. African Americans reported higher scores on PAC than did Caucasians. African Americans' higher religiosity partially mediated the relationship between race and PAC. Additional variables that contributed to their higher PAC scores were African Americans' lower anxiety, lower feelings of bother by the care recipient's behavior, and lower socioeconomic status.

The identification of nursing home residents who can continue to participate in advance care planning about end-of-life care is a critical clinical and bioethical issue. This study uses high quality observational research to identify correlates of advance care planning in nursing homes, including objective measurement of capacity. Design and Methods: The authors used cross-sectional, cohort study between 1997 and 1999. Seventy-eight residents (M age = 83.97, SD = 8.2) and their proxies (M age = 59.23, SD = 11.77) were included across five nursing homes. The authors obtained data via chart review, proxy interviews, resident assessments, survey completion by certified nursing assistants, and direct observation of residents' daily behaviors. Results: Capacity assessments revealed that most residents could state a simple treatment preference (82.4%), but a sizable number did not retain capacity to understand treatment alternatives or appreciate the consequences of their choice. Global cognitive ability (Mini-Mental State Examination score) was related to understanding and appreciation. When the authors removed the effects of global cognitive ability, understanding and appreciation were related to time spent by residents in verbal interaction with others. Residents were more likely to possess advance directives when proxies possessed advance directives, proxies were less religious, and residents were socially engaged. Implications: Assessment of proxy beliefs and direct determination of residents' decisional capacity and social engagement may help nursing home staff identify families who may participate in advance planning for end-of-life medical care. Measures of global cognitive ability offer limited information about resident capacity for decision making. Decisional capacity assessments should enhance the verbal ability of individuals with dementia by reducing reliance on memory in the assessment process. Interventions to engage residents and families in structured discussions for end-of-life planning are needed. Key Words: Advance planning, Nursing homes, Capacity, Observational research

Agitation in nursing home residents presents a serious challenge to caregivers and may place residents at risk for harm. Understanding the etiology of agitation can assist clinicians in developing nonpharmacologic interventions for preventing and treating this problem. The purpose of this study was to examine independent and common predictors of resident agitation with structural equation modeling. Agitation was measured with both a standardized staff report rating scale and direct behavioral observation. No indirect or mediating effects were found. Cognitive impairment, vision and hearing impairment, and gender were found to be independent predictors of agitation as measured by direct behavioral observation. Only cognitive impairment was found to be predictive of agitation as measured by the standardized staff report scale. An unexpected finding was that vision impairment appeared to exert a protective effect for agitation in these severely cognitively impaired residents. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed as well as the relative merits of the two methods of measuring agitation.

Computer-assisted behavioral observation data were collected from 66 nursing home residents while they received assistance during personal care routines from a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Data were collected both before and after a comprehensive behavior-management and communication-skills training program was delivered to the nursing staff. A total of 30 residents showed 6 or more episodes of disruptive vocalization or other forms of agitation during baseline observations, and timed-event sequential analysis methods were used to test whether certain CNA behaviors either elicited or prevented onsets of agitation in these 30 residents. Simple verbal prompts used by CNAs during personal care routines before staff training were found to elicit agitation onset (p = .03), whereas positive statements to the resident were found to reduce the likelihood of agitation onset (p = .02). In a previous analysis of the effects of staff training, we found that rates of resident agitation were significantly lower after training compared with baseline and that CNAs increased their rates of positive statements to residents. In the present study, timed-event sequential analyses indicated that the verbal prompts used by CNAs during personal care routines were no longer associated with an increased rate of resident agitation after staff training among the 20 residents who showed 6 or more episodes of agitation both before and after staff training. These findings suggest that the staff training program improved the quality of CNA verbal prompts. The sequential analysis of observational data provides an important method for studying interpersonal interactions, including those of nursing home residents and the nursing staff who care for them.