Abstract
A study was undertaken to examine the characteristics of residents in private nursing homes, to measure residents' dependency levels, to determine the adequacy of procedures for admitting new residents and to explore general practitioners' work with residents. Details were obtained of 61 nursing homes registered by Nottingham district health authority and of a selection of residents. Information about residents provided by the nurses in charge included aspects of self care, orientation and social integration, these items contributing to a dependency score for each resident. General practitioners completed postal questionnaires. Information was sought on the numbers of residents on the general practitioners' lists, visiting patterns, and opinions on their work with residents. It was found that almost half of the reports accompanying residents on admission were considered inadequate by the nurses in charge. The 357 residents varied widely in dependency level, need for nursing care and medication; 31% had low dependency scores. Most of the residents (57%), had been admitted from hospital, 26% from their own home and 15% from other nursing or residential homes. Higher overall dependency levels, problems with mobility and continence and need for care of wounds, catheters or colostomies were more frequent in residents admitted from hospital or nursing or residential homes than in those admitted from their own home. The 70 responding general practitioners varied widely in the numbers of residents on their lists and in their visiting patterns. The 16 general practitioners providing medical care for entire nursing homes were significantly more likely than the other general practitioners to visit routinely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Andrew R. A. Analysis of a general practitioner's work in a private nursing home for the elderly. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1988 Dec;38(317):546–548. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bennett J. Private nursing homes: contribution to long stay care of the elderly in the Brighton Health District. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Oct 4;293(6551):867–870. doi: 10.1136/bmj.293.6551.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brocklehurst J. C., Carty M. H., Leeming J. T., Robinson J. M. Medical screening of old people accepted for residential care. Lancet. 1978 Jul 15;2(8081):141–142. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)91521-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Campbell H., Crawford V., Stout R. W. The impact of private residential and nursing care on statutory residential and hospital care of elderly people in south Belfast. Age Ageing. 1990 Sep;19(5):318–324. doi: 10.1093/ageing/19.5.318. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harwood R. H., Ebrahim S. Is relocation harmful to institutionalized elderly people? Age Ageing. 1992 Jan;21(1):61–66. doi: 10.1093/ageing/21.1.61. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Humphreys H. I., Kassab J. Y. An investigation into private sector nursing and residential home care for the elderly in north Wales. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1986 Nov;36(292):500–503. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MacLennan W. J. Private nursing home care: the middle way. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988 Mar 12;296(6624):732–733. doi: 10.1136/bmj.296.6624.732. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Packham C. J. Needs of elderly people in residential homes: comparison of records held by carers and general practitioners. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1989 Aug;39(325):335–337. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Primrose W. R., Capewell A. E. A survey of registered nursing homes in Edinburgh. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1986 Mar;36(284):125–128. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilkin D. Conceptual problems in dependency research. Soc Sci Med. 1987;24(10):867–873. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90188-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]