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ABSTRACT Malathion is an under-recognized and under-utilized therapy for head lice and scabies largely due to misperceptions about its safety profile. Specifically, its pure form as it exists in pharmaceutical [...]

Background. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to describe the clinimetric evaluation of tour fall risk assessment tools (FRATs) recommended in best practice guidelines for use in residential aged care (RAC). Methods. Eighty-seven residents, mean age 81.59 years (SD [+ or -] 10.69), participated. The Falls Assessment Risk and Management Tool (FARAM), Peninsula Health Fall Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT), Queensland Fall Risk Assessment Tool (QFRAT), and Melbourne Fall Risk Assessment Tool (MFRAT) were completed at baseline, and 2 and 4 months, and falls occurring in the 6 months after the baseline assessment were recorded. Interrater agreement (kappa), predictive accuracy (survival analysis and Youden Index), and fit to the Rasch model were examined. Twelve-month fall history formed the predictive accuracy reference. Results. Interrater risk classification agreement was high for the PHFRAT ([kappa] = .84) and FARAM ([kappa] = .81), and low for the QFRAT ([kappa] = .51) and MFRAT ([kappa] = .21). Survival analysis identified that 43%-66% of risk factors on each tool had no (p >. 10) association with falls. No tool had higher predictive accuracy (Youden index) than the question, 'has the resident fallen in past 12 months?' (p > .05). All tools did not exhibit fit to the Rasch model, invalidating summing of risk factor scores to provide an overall risk score. Conclusion. The studied tools have poor clinimetric properties, casting doubt about their usefulness for identifying fall risk factors for those most at risk for falling and measuring fall risk in RAC. Key Words: Fall risk--Prognostic validity--Sensitivity--Specificity Elderly persons--Nursing home.

Purpose: In an attempt to more thoroughly describe aggressive behavior in nursing home residents with dementia, we examined background and proximal factors as guided by the Need-Driven Dementia-Compromised Behavior model. Design and Methods: We used a multivariate cross-sectional survey with repeated measures; participants resided in nine randomly selected nursing homes within four midwestern counties. The Minimum Data Set (with verification by caregivers) identified participants. We used a disproportionate probability sample of 107 participants (51% with a history of aggressive behavior) to ensure variability. Videotaped care events included four of direct care (shower baths, meals, dressing, and undressing) and two of non-direct care (two randomly selected 20-minute time periods in the afternoon and evening). The majority of participants (75%) received three shower baths, for a total of 282 videotaped baths. Results: Because the shower bath was the only care event significantly related to aggressive behavior (F = 6.9, p < .001), only those data are presented. Multilevel statistical modeling identified background factors (gender, mental status score, and lifelong history of less agreeableness) and a proximal factor (amount of nighttime sleep) as significant predictors (p < .05) of aggressive behavior during the shower bath. We found significant correlations between aggressive behavior and negative subject affect (r = .27) during the bath, and aggressive behavior and lifetime agreeableness level (r = - .192). We also found significant correlations between mental status and the amount of education (r = .212), and between negative caregiver affect and negative participant affect (r = .321). Implications: We identified three background and one proximal factor as significant risk factors for aggressive behavior in dementia. Data identify not only those persons most at risk for aggressive behavior during care, but also the care event most associated with aggressive behavior. Together these data inform both caregiving for persons with dementia as well as the design of intervention studies for aggressive behavior in dementia. Key Words: Aggression in dementia, Need-Driven Dementia-Compromised Behavior (NDB) model of dementia care, Nursing home care

Purpose: Previous research on nursing home resident quality of life (QOL) has mainly been cross-sectional. This study examined the association between changes in QOL and changes in resident clinical factors. Design and Methods: A longitudinal study of resident QOL was conducted in two nursing homes. Self-report interviews using a multidimensional measure of QOL were linked with clinical data from the Minimum Data Set. Five waves of interviews were conducted at 6-month intervals. Results: Residents with one or more Stage II or higher pressure ulcers for two consecutive 6-month periods reported declines in autonomy, security, and spiritual well-being QOL domains; those with declines in physical disability reported declines in the dignity domain. Increases in depressive symptoms were associated with decreases in comfort, meaningful activities, and food enjoyment domains, and increases in pain were associated with decreases in functional competence and dignity domains. Implications: There is evidence of an association between physical health and self-reported QOL. However, not every dimension of QOL exhibited the same pattern. Further research is needed on the link between specific clinical factors and aspects of QOL. Key Words: Health status, Nursing homes, Quality of life

Background. We examined whether questions addressing the effect of pain on day-to-day function add unique information to the standardized verbal descriptor scale for pain severity in nursing homes (NHs). Methods. Interviews were conducted with 123 residents in two Veterans Affairs NHs. All participants were asked about pain presence. Residents reporting pain were asked about severity of worst pain (mild, moderate, severe, very severe/horrible), degree of bother (not at all, a little, a moderate amount, a great deal), and the effect of pain on daily function (whether pain made it hard to 'sleep,' 'get out of bed,' or 'spend time with other people' and whether activities were limited because of pain). Results. Fifty-one percent of participants reported pain. The correlation between pain severity report and overall count of activity interference was significant (Spearman's rho = .449, p = .001). In general, for each activity, the proportion reporting interference increased as severity increased. Fischer's exact test showed significant association only for 'hard to get out of bed' (p = .0175) and 'hard to sleep' (p = .0211). As expected, residents reporting 'mild' pain reported less activity interference than those reporting 'very severe' pain. The association between pain and activity interference was more variable and less predictable among residents with 'moderate' or 'severe' pain. Conclusion. Questions addressing the effect of pain on day-to-day functions are an important addition to standardized pain assessments, particularly for persons who report intermediate levels of pain severity because the perceived effect on daily function may vary most among individuals at these levels. Key Words: Pain--Nursing home--Activity limitation.

Physical activity has been positively associated with cognition and the rest-activity rhythm. In the present study, nursing staff classified ambulatory nursing home residents with moderate dementia either as active (n = 42) or as sedentary (n = 34). We assessed the rest-activity rhythm by means of actigraphy, and we administered neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive functioning. Compared with the group that was considered sedentary, the group that was considered active had a significantly better rest-activity rhythm, indicating agreement between nursing staff classifications and data gathered by the actigraph. Cognitive function was related neither to active-sedentary classification nor to actigraph measures. Similar ambulatory nursing home residents with dementia may show considerable differences in their level of daily physical activity and in their rest-activity rhythm, but the precise relationship among all variables requires further investigation. Key Words: Cognition--Rest-activity rhythm--Sedentary.

Purpose: It is widely believed that physical restraint use causes mental and physical health decline in nursing home residents. Yet few studies exist showing an association between restraint initiation and health decline. In this research, we examined whether physical restraint initiation is associated with subsequent lower physical or mental health. Design and Methods: We used all nursing homes (N = 740) in Pennsylvania in 2001, with 12,820 residents. We used the Minimum Data Set data; Online Survey, Certification and Reporting data; and the Area Resource File as data sources. We restricted our sample to newly admitted nursing home residents who were not restrained in the first two quarters of their residency. We examined which facility and individual characteristics during those first two quarters were associated with restraint initiation during the third quarter. We then examined the association of third-quarter restraint initiation with fourth-quarter health outcomes, using regressions that controlled for first- and second-quarter health status as well as other resident, facility, and market characteristics. The physical health outcomes examined consisted of falls, walking dependence, activities of daily living (ADLs), pressure ulcers, and contractures. Mental health outcomes examined consisted of cognitive performance, depression, and behavior problems. Results: The initiation of restraint use was associated with a previous fall (p < .01 ), psychoactive medication use (p < .05), low cognition (p < .01), ADL scores (p < .01 ), and the absence of pressure ulcers (p < .10), as well as a variety of facility characteristics. Subsequent to restraint initiation, we found an association with lower cognitive performance (p < .01), lower ADL performance (p < .01), and higher walking dependence (p < .01). Implications: We found that an association between restraint initiation and subsequent adverse health consequences exists and is substantial. Moreover, these results would appear to have practical as well as statistical significance. Key Words: Physical restraint, Outcomes, Health, Nursing homes

Purpose: To inform states with nursing home transition programs, we determine what risk factors are associated with participants' long-term readmission to nursing homes within 1 year after discharge. Design and Methods: We obtained administrative data for all 1,354 nursing home residents who were discharged, and we interviewed 628 transitioning through New Jersey's nursing home transition program in 2000. We used the Andersen behavioral model to select predictors of long-term nursing home readmission, and we used Cox proportional hazards regressions to examine the relative risk of experiencing such readmissions. Results: Overall, 72.6% of the 1,354 individuals remained in the community, with 8.6% readmitted to a nursing home for long stays (>90 days) and 18.8% dying during the study year. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that being male, single, and dissatisfied with one's living situation; living with others; and falling within 8 to 10 weeks after discharge were significant predictors of long-term nursing home readmission during the first year after discharge. Implications: Most of the factors predicting long-term readmission were predisposing, not need, factors. This fact points to the limits of formulaic approaches to assessing candidates for discharge and the importance of working with clients to understand and address their particular vulnerabilities. Consumers, state policy makers, nursing home transition staff, discharge planners, and caregivers can use these findings to understand and help clients understand their particular risks and options, and to identify those individuals needing the greatest attention during the transition period as well as risk-specific services such as fall-prevention programs that should be made available to them. Key Words: Nursing home transition, Nursing home discharge, Community care, Caregivers

Background. A number of studies have shown low rates of osteoporosis treatment. Few, if any, have assessed a comprehensive range of functional and clinical correlates of treatment coverage. Our objective was to examine which sociodemographic, clinical, and functional characteristics are associated with pharmacotherapy for osteoporosis among community-based seniors. Methods. The study sample included 48,689 home care clients aged [greater than or equal to] 65 years in Ontario, Canada. Treatment coverage (calcium and vitamin D and/or anti-osteoporotic drugs) was assessed in two subgroups, clients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis (without fracture) and those with a prevalent fracture. Sociodemographic, health, and functional measures available from the Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care (RAI-HC) were assessed as correlates of treatment in multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results. Approximately 59% of clients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis were receiving pharmacotherapy, compared with 27% of those with a prevalent fracture. For both subgroups, treatment coverage was significantly lower among clients with at least three chronic conditions, health instability, fewer than nine medications, functional impairment, and depressive symptoms and among those clients who were widowed. Among clients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, treatment was positively associated with cognitive impairment and negatively associated with confinement to a wheelchair or bed. Men with a prevalent fracture were significantly less likely to receive treatment, particularly in the absence of an osteoporosis diagnosis. Conclusions. Many older adults with presumed osteoporosis in our study were not receiving drug therapy for this condition. Indicators of clinical instability and functional decline appear to represent influential factors in treatment decisions. Despite a lower likelihood of treatment among men with a prevalent fracture, this sex difference in treatment largely disappeared in the presence of an osteoporosis diagnosis.

Responding to the dramatic growth in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), the present study focused on mental health among older residents in ALFs. We assessed the effects of physical health constraints (chronic conditions, functional disability, and self-rated health) and psychosocial resources (social network, sense of mastery, religiosity, and attitude toward aging) on depressive symptoms. A sample of 150 residents ([M.sub.age] = 82.8, SD = 9.41) from 17 facilities in Florida was used for analyses. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were observed among older residents with a greater level of functional disability, poorer self-rated health, lower sense of mastery, less religiosity, and less positive attitude towards aging. In addition, the linkages between physical and mental health were modified by psychosocial resources. For older residents with more positive beliefs and attitudes (a higher sense of mastery, greater religiosity, and more positive attitudes toward aging), the adverse effects of functional disability or poorer self-rated health on depressive symptoms were attenuated. The protective roles of psychosocial resources against physical health constraints yield important implications for designing prevention and intervention strategies for the mental health of older populations in ALF settings.

Background. The participation of informal caregivers in the care of nursing home (NH) residents has the potential to positively impact care, especially for cognitively impaired residents whose own ability to advocate for their care is often limited. This study examined relationships between the level of informal caregiver involvement (ICI) in the NH and the degree to which residents' common medical conditions were detected by facility staff. Methods. One hundred pairs of cognitively impaired residents and their primary informal caregivers were enrolled from three facilities in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Data collection involved interviews with informal caregivers and facility staff, as well as a medical evaluation and chart review of residents. A measure of illness detection was created by comparing a medical examination of the resident with chart review information. ICI was measured via staff rating and informal caregiver self-report. Results. Correlations between illness detection and ICI were significant, with r = -.46 (p < .001) and r = -.39 (p < .001), for staff rating and self-reports, respectively. In regression models taking into account resident characteristics (age, race, gender, comorbidities, payment status, duration of stay, and cognitive impairment) and facility differences, higher ICI and being female predicted higher rates of illness detection. Conclusions. Though the cross-sectional nature of the study prevents the analysis of causal relationships, the involvement level of informal caregivers in the NH care of cognitively impaired residents was statistically related to higher rates of illness detection. Ramifications for the role of informal caregivers in long-term care are discussed.

Background. Social facilitation and meal ambiance have beneficial effects on food intake in healthy adults. Extrapolation to the nursing home setting may lead to less malnutrition among the residents. Therefore, we investigate the effect of family-style meals on energy intake and the risk of malnutrition in Dutch nursing home residents. Methods. In 2002 and 2003, a randomized controlled trial was conducted among 178 residents (mean age 77 years) in five Dutch nursing homes. Within each home, two wards were randomized into an intervention (n = 94) and a control group (n = 84). For 6 months, the intervention group received their meals family style, and the control group received the usual individual preplating services. Outcome measures were intakes of energy (kJ), carbohydrates (g), fat (g), and protein (g) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score (0-30). Results. The change in daily energy intake between the control and intervention group differed significantly (991 kJ; 95% confidence interval [CI], 504-1479). The difference in intake of macronutrients was 29.2 g (95% CI, 13.5-44.9) for carbohydrate, 9.1 g (95% CI, 2.9-15.2) for fat, and 8.6 g (95% CI, 3.4-13.6) for protein. The percentage of residents in the intervention group classified by the MNA as malnourished decreased from 17% to 4%, whereas this percentage increased from 11% to 23% in the control group. Conclusions. Family-style meals stimulate daily energy intake and protect nursing home residents against malnourishment. Therefore, replacement of the preplating meal services with family-style meals in nursing homes is recommended.

Although many studies have examined weight loss and low weight in institutionalized persons, there has been little research exploring the community-living older adult's nutritional risk. The purpose of this literature review (1995-2005) is to describe our current understanding of nutritional risk and low weight in community-living older adults 65 years old and older. Computerized database searches and footnote reviews were used to find published studies on nutritional risk and low weight. Twenty-two research articles are reviewed and summarized. Each study was reviewed according to preset criteria.

Background. Little is known about the long-term effects of analgesics on functional status and well-being of nursing home residents with chronic pain. Methods. Using the Minimum Data Set, we performed a longitudinal study of nursing home residents (n = 10,372) with persistent pain. Using propensity score adjustment techniques, we compared the effect of different analgesics on changes in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, and examined rates of adverse events over a 6-month period. Results. There was no change in the analgesic class for at least 6 months for 35.4% of residents, including 40% who received no analgesics during this time. Use of nonopioids was 37.9%, short-acting opioids was 18.9%, and long-acting opioids was 3.3%. We found improvement in functional status (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-3.23) and social engagement (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.58: 95%, CI, 0.99 2.50) with long-acting opioids compared with short-acting opioids. There were no changes in cognitive status or mood status, or increased risk of depression with use of any analgesics, including opioids. There was a trend toward a lower risk of falls with use of any analgesics (adjusted odds ratio = 0.87: 95% C1, 0.70 1.06). Rates of other adverse events (i.e., constipation, delirium, dehydration, pneumonia) were not found to be higher among chronic opioid users compared to those taking no analgesics or nonopioids. Conclusions. The use of long-acting opioids may be a relatively sale option in the management of persistent nonmalignant pain in the nursing home population, yielding benefits in functional status and social engagement.

Purpose: Getting dressed is an activity that is of particular difficulty for many persons with dementia, given the need for hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and overall planning skills. Despite several studies concerning interventions to improve dressing behavior, very little is known about the dressing process as it is currently performed. The purpose of this study is to characterize the dressing activity of daily living (ADL) of nursing home residents suffering from dementia and thereby identify ways to improve the dressing process. Design and Methods: We analyzed videotapes of dressing of 20 special care unit residents to describe the dressing process and the interaction between residents and staff members. Results: Staff members completely dressed the residents in the majority of cases. Interaction between the staff members and the residents was considered insufficient in most sessions. Implications: The study identified possible intervention techniques, assistive devices, organizational routines, and environmental changes that may improve the dressing process. The results have implications that nursing homes may consider in their policies, care activities, staff training, and environment to facilitate safety, comfort, and satisfaction during the dressing process. Key Words: Dementia, Dressing ADL, Staff-resident interaction, Nursing home residents, Nursing home policy

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 [+ or -] 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 = .48, p < .001 and r - .59, p < .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 = .37, p < .01, and internal consistency was excellent, = 0.87 - 0.91. Residents' GPM-M2 scores were stable over time, r = .74-.80, p < .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. Key Words: Clinical assessment, Dementia, Pain, Self-report methodology, Nursing home, Geriatric Pain Measure

Purpose: Previous research in specific locales indicates that individuals admitted to rural nursing homes have lower care needs than individuals admitted to nursing homes in urban areas, and that rural nursing homes differ in their mix of short-stay and chronic-care residents. This research investigates whether differences in acuity are a function of differences in resident payer status and occur for both individuals admitted for short stays, with Medicare as payer, and those needing chronic care. Design and Methods: We used a representative 10% sample of national resident assessments (Minimum Data Set) for calendar year 2000 (N = 197,589). We conducted statistical analyses (means, percentages, and logistic regression) to investigate differences in Medicare and non-Medicare admissions to facilities in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Results: Non-Medicare residents admitted to rural nursing facilities have lower acuity scores than non-Medicare residents admitted to metropolitan nursing homes. However, individuals admitted under Medicare were similar in rural and urban areas. Implications: Differences in resident acuity at admission among facilities in different locales were largely a function of lower acuity levels for individuals admitted to rural nursing homes for long-term or chronic care, although differences in Medicare census also played some role in facility-level differences in acuity. Other factors must be explored to determine why this lower acuity occurs and whether higher use of rural nursing homes by less impaired older persons meets their needs and preferences and represents good public policy. Key Words: Rural, Urban, Nursing home, Medicare, Case mix, Minimum Data Set

Purpose: The Minimum Data Set (MDS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) bed-mobility item, which rates the staff-assistance level necessary for bed movement, is used to target scheduled repositioning interventions and to identify physical function changes in nursing home residents; however, accuracy of the item is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the MDS ADL bed-mobility item as completed by nursing home nurses with independent performance assessments conducted by research staff. Design and Methods: A convenience sample of 197 long-stay residents from 26 California nursing homes participating in a larger project was used in this cross-sectional study to compare independent research-staff performance assessments (using graduated assistance protocols of residents' ability to move in bed) and nursing home nurse MDS bed-mobility ratings. Participants also wore movement monitors to verify performance assessments. Results: Poor agreement existed between the nursing home nurse MDS bed-mobility ratings and the research-staff performance assessments across all assistance levels (kappa range, [kappa] = 0.007, p = .918 to [kappa] = 0.484, p < .001), with better agreement seen in totally dependent participants and with fewer elapsed days between MDS ratings and performance assessments. The odds of nursing home nurse errors (underestimating or overestimating dependency) on the MDS bed-mobility item were 2.1 times higher for participants judged independent by research staff compared with participants judged as requiring physical assistance by research staff (95% confidence interval, 1.14-4.03) when adjusted for number of days between nurse MDS ratings and research-staff performance assessments. Implications: Nursing home nurses overestimated resident dependency in bed mobility. The systematic inaccuracies in MDS bed-mobility ratings have implications for their use as a basis for targeting residents for repositioning programs and determining changes in residents' physical function. Performance assessments utilizing graduated assistance protocols are recommended as a method of improving the accuracy of MDS bed-mobility ratings. Key Words: Activities of daily living assessment, Bed mobility, Minimum data set accuracy, Physical performance assessments

Background. The care of elderly persons in chronic care nursing wards is generally complicated by nutritional problems such as weight loss and worsening protein status. An inability or refusal of the patient to consume enough food often necessitates the use of expensive commercial formulas for nutritional support. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of an in-house (high-protein, milk-based) low-cost formula with added minerals and vitamins for total nutritional support would be effective in maintaining weight and protein status of patients in the long term. Methods. Participants were recruited from five nursing care units of a single geriatric facility. All residents who required formula feeding were followed prospectively. The formula was provided either as a pudding or a milkshake for oral feeding or as a liquid for tube feeding and served as the sole source of nutrition. Data were collected regarding the participants' weight (monthly), serum albumin level (periodically), and the manner of formula administration (oral, nasogastric, or gastrostomy tube). Results. One hundred forty-three participants who received this formula were followed for a maximum period of 6 years. Mean weight increased by 5 kg during the first year and remained stable thereafter. Those participants who died within 6 months had no increase in weight. The long-term mean serum albumin level of all participants was an acceptable 4 g/dL. Conclusion. The long-term use of an inexpensive in-house formula for total nutritional support increased weight and maintained serum albumin levels in most of the chronically ill elderly nursing care patients who participated in the study.

Purpose: Barriers to family involvement in the nursing home with the potential for change through intervention are examined, including transportation, caregiver health, relationships with staff, and resident characteristics. Design and Methods: Data were collected for 93 family caregiver-resident pairs by means of telephone interviews and chart review. Regression modeling was used to identify relationships between involvement (caregiver visit frequency) and the changeable barriers after the known variables of distance, kinship, payment source, length of stay, and cognitive function were taken into account. Results: Lower visit frequency was found for caregivers reporting problems with transportation, poor relationships with staff, and a smaller network of supportive family and friends. Higher caregiver anxiety was related to higher visit frequency. Implications: Several barriers to family involvement are shown to be as or more influential than ones identified in previous research, thus providing empirical support for interventions currently used as well as suggesting new areas for intervention. Key Words: Nursing home residents, Cognitive impairment, Family involvement

The purpose of this research was to describe the kinds of pain assessments nursing home staff use with nursing home residents and the characteristics and behaviors of residents that staff consider as they assess pain. Twenty-one focus groups were held in 12 nursing homes. Nurses and other nursing home staff attended the focus groups. Coding techniques consistent with ethnographic methodology were used for data analysis. Four themes identified an underlying uncertainty in assessing residents pain, the staff relationship-centered approach to pain assessment, the resident cues that alert staff to pain, and residents' characteristics important to the nursing assessment. Composition of focus groups made a difference in participation of certified nursing assistants in focus group discussion. Urban and rural differences were noted across the focus groups. Research is needed to further refine pain assessment techniques specifically for nursing home settings. Keywords: older adults; pain assessment; nursing homes; focus groups: qualitative research

Background. Although weight change in older persons has proven prognostic significance, it is not known whether monthly weights obtained by the clinical staff in long-term care institutions are reliable enough to be useful in identifying at-risk residents. The objective of this study was to determine whether an association exists between mortality risk and the intraresident variation in weight in long-term care institutions. Methods. For this study, 900 nursing home residents with a recently identified nutritional problem from 96 long-term care facilities in 8 states were randomly selected. At study entry, nutritional, health status, and demographic data were extracted from the nursing home chart or the Minimum Data Set. Weights obtained by the nursing home staff were recorded at baseline and during each of the subsequent 6 months. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess relationships between weight parameters and mortality risk during the 7 months of observation. Results. During the study, 435 (48%) participants had at least 1 monthly weight that differed from the previous month's weight by [greater than or equal to]5%; 163 (18%) participants had this magnitude of a 1-month weight change more than once. By controlling for the linear trend (i.e., slope) of each residents' weight change between the first to the as weight the average month-to-month residual variability in the resident's weights was calculated. This residual variability or 'average random fluctuation' in weight from 1 month to the next was [greater than or equal to]2% in 229 (25%) participants and [greater than or equal to]3% in 82 (9%) participants. Despite the large random fluctuation in the residents' weights weight loss was au important prognostic indicator. Those who lost [greater than or equal to]5% in any month had a 10-fold increased risk for death compared with those who gained weight (adjusted relative risk, 10.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.2 to 35.5). The average random fluctuation in weight was associated with an increased risk for death only at the upper 10th percentile for the population. Conclusions. Many nutritionally compromised elderly nursing home residents experience significant bidirectional fluctuations in their weight from month to month. How much of this variability is due to measurement error is not known. However, a weight loss of [greater than or equal to]5% in any month has important prognostic implications.

Background. The role of behavioral and psychological symptoms as an independent risk factor of nursing home placement (NHP) in cognitively impaired elders has been controversial. Methods. A community sample of 449 cognitively impaired elders and their knowledgeable informants (KIs) was followed for 1 year. Subjects were classified as having dementia (n = 330) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 119) using a neuropsychiatric battery of 4 tests. Subject characteristics (behavioral and psychological symptoms, demographic, health related, and health services use) and KI characteristics were entered into the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results. The incidence rate of NHP was 8.9%. At baseline, 57.7% of subjects had at least 1 behavioral and psychological symptom. Presence of these symptoms was associated with shorter time to NHP only in a univariate analysis. Other factors significant in the multivariate Cox modeling were being white (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.17), having fair or poor physical health rating (HR = 2.12), having greater numbers of difficulties with activities of daily living (HR = 1.46), and having a physician's diagnosis of dementia (HR = 6.76). An interaction was found between the last 2 variables (HR = 0.59), indicating that among those with a diagnosis of dementia, a greater number of difficulties with activities of daily living delayed time to NHP. KI characteristics were not associated with NHP. Conclusions. Behavioral and psychological symptoms were common, but having these symptoms was not an independent risk factor of NHP. Caregiver characteristics may not play as important a role in determining NHP as subject characteristics. Interventions aimed at improving or maintaining physical or cognitive functioning may have better chances of delaying NHP.

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.

Background. Determining the nature and rate of change in physical function among long-stay nursing home (NH) residents classified by cognitive performance is needed to inform judgments about prognosis and design of clinical trials to minimize functional decline. Methods. The study consisted of a longitudinal analysis using random coefficients models of 71,388 noncomatose residents aged 65 and older admitted in one of five states participating in the Health Care Financing Administration-sponsored National Case Mix and Quality Demonstration Project who stayed in the nursing home 1 year or longer. Linear effects of cognitive impairment on admission and over time on the trajectory of dependence in activities of daily living (ADLs) were estimated, adjusting for demographic status upon admission. Interaction terms were used to determine if subgroups of residents at the same cognitive level were at risk for a steeper than average rate of decline. Measures were derived from the NH Minimum Data Set (MDS+) ratings of each domain. Cognition was measured using the MDS--Cognitive Performance Scale. Physical function was determined by summing ADL dependence ratings of bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and eating (range 0 to 20). Demographics included age, gender, race, and marital status. Results. On average, ADL dependence worsened 0.84 points per year among these long-stay residents. Only cognition and marital status had clinically significant effects on ADL dependence. Married residents exhibited more ADL dependence than unmarried residents. Severity of cognitive impairment on admission and over time influenced severity of ADL dependence but not rate of decline. No interaction terms were clinically significant. Conclusions. Clinicians seeking to identify factors that accelerate ADL decline in long-stay NH residents must examine explanatory variables other than cognitive impairment and demographics.

Purpose: The Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC), a symptom and quality-of-life inventory, was developed among community-dwelling adults under age 65. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of an interview format of the PAC for older adults residing in long-term care. Design and Methods: The PAC was administered to 24 nursing home residents aged 65 and older. Cognitive interviewing methods were used to evaluate subjects' understanding and interpretation of PAC items. Results: The PAC interview required an average of 11 rain, 15 s, to complete. Administration modifications for this population included rereading Likert anchor points and the stem question for each item. Subject item interpretation was generally accurate, as was interpretation of Likert anchors. Implications: The PAC is easily administered and well understood by older adult residents in long-term care and provides a brief method for obtaining constipation-specific symptom and quality-of-life data from this population. Key Words: Questionnaire feasibility, Constipation, Frail elderly persons, Think-aloud approach, Cognitive debriefing