Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Outcomes of feeding problems in advanced dementia in a nursing home population.
To describe quality of care for feeding problems in advanced dementia and probability and predictors of weight loss and mortality. ⋯ Weight loss is a predictor of death in advanced dementia. Treatments can often stabilize weight, but weight loss should be used to trigger discussion of goals of care and treatment options.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Hospice use and public expenditures at the end of life in assisted living residents in a Florida Medicaid waiver program.
To examine the association between hospice use and public expenditures in a sample of dually eligible assisted living (AL) residents at the end of life. ⋯ Hospice use at the end of life may not be associated with lower public expenditures in older dually eligible AL residents. Future research should examine the association between hospice enrollment and the quality of end-of-life care.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Continuous deep sedation until death in nursing home residents with dementia: a case series.
To describe the characteristics of continuous deep sedation until death and the prior decision-making process of nursing home residents dying with dementia and to evaluate this practice according to features reflecting sedation guideline recommendations. ⋯ Continuous deep sedation until death for nursing home residents does not always guarantee a dying process free of symptoms and might be amenable to improvement.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Association between proportion of provider clinical effort in nursing homes and potentially avoidable hospitalizations and medical costs of nursing home residents.
To assess potential avoidable hospitalizations of nursing home (NH) residents as a function of the percentage of clinical effort their primary care provider (PCP) devotes to NH practice. ⋯ The percentage of clinical effort that providers devote to NHs is associated with risk of avoidable hospitalization.
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Comparative Study
Poor functional status as a risk factor for severe Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized older adults.
To determine the role of impaired functional status as a risk factor for severe Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in older adults. ⋯ In this cohort of hospitalized older adults, impaired functional status was an independent risk factor for severe CDI.