Table 1.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Residents with Dementia According to Unit Type
| Variable | All Unit Types(n = 134) |
Dementia-Specific Care Unit (n = 24) |
Non–Dementia-Specific Care Unit (n = 110) |
Difference in Mean (95% Confidence Interval)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | ||||
| Age, mean ± SD | 86.1 ± 6.7 | 85.7 ± 6.5 | 86.2 ± 6.8 | −0.5 (−3.5–2.6) |
| Female, % | 80.6 | 75.0 | 81.8 | |
| White, % | 79.9 | 95.8 | 76.4* | |
| Education, years | 13.5 ± 3.0 | 14.7 ± 2.8 | 13.2 ± 3.0* | 1.5 (0.2–2.8) |
| AL tenure, years† | 0.3 ± 1.0 | 0.1 ± 0.9 | 0.4 ± 1.0 | −0.3 (−0.7–0.15) |
| AL monthly charges, dollars | 3,139.5 ± 1,463.6 | 5,133.5 ± 1,617.5 | 2,706.9 ± 1,001.7* | 2,426.6 (1,704.7–3,148.5) |
| Clinical characteristics, mean ± SD | ||||
| Mini-Mental State Examination score | 14.6 ± 7.7 | 11.7 ± 6.8 | 15.3 ± 7.7* | −3.6 (−7.0 to −2.0 |
| Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale—Physical | 14.2 ± 8.8 | 16.7 ± 8.7 | 13.7 ± 8.8 | 3.0 (0.9–6.9) |
| General Medical Health Rating | 2.7 ± 0.8 | 2.9 ± 0.9 | 2.7 ± 0.8 | −0.2 (−0.2–0.5) |
| Caregiver Activity Survey†,‡ | 4.5 ± 1.9 | 4.9 ± 1.3 | 4.4 ± 2.0 | 0.5 (−0.1–1.2) |
| NPI total† | 2.0 ± 1.2 | 2.4 ± 1.1 | 2.0 ± 1.2 | 0.5 (0.2–1.1) |
| Specific NPI domain, % | ||||
| Delusions | 35.1 | 41.7 | 33.6 | |
| Hallucinations | 11.2 | 20.8 | 9.1 | |
| Agitation or aggression | 36.6 | 50.0 | 33.6 | |
| Depression or dysphoria | 26.9 | 25.0 | 27.3 | |
| Anxiety | 22.4 | 37.5 | 19.1* | |
| Euphoria | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | |
| Apathy | 23.9 | 16.7 | 25.5 | |
| Disinhibition | 11.2 | 16.7 | 10.0 | |
| Irritability | 32.1 | 45.8 | 29.1 | |
| Aberrant motor behavior | 21.1 | 37.5 | 17.4* | |
| Sleep | 27.1 | 20.8 | 28.4 | |
| Appetite or eating disorders | 12.8 | 16.7 | 11.9 | |
| Dementia care indicators | ||||
| Complete dementia examination, % | 73.0 | 82.6 | 70.9 | |
| Complete dementia treatment, % | 52.2 | 54.2 | 51.8 | |
| Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor use | 30.6 | 50.0 | 26.4* | |
| Psychotropic drug use§ | 53.0 | 54.2 | 52.7 | |
| Group activities ‖ | 69.4 ± 62.6 | 95.6 ± 76.9 | 63.6 ± 57.8* | 46.3 (13.6–79.0) |
| Television watching# | 61.2 ± 69.9 | 36.3 ± 58.8 | 66.7 ± 71.2 | −30.4 (−61.2–0.5) |
| Outcomes** | ||||
| Alzheimer’s Disease–Related Quality of Life score, mean ± SD | 77.8 ± 13.6 | 75.5 ± 15.7 | 78.3 ± 13.1 | −2.8 (−9.8–4.2) |
| Caregiver burden (range 1–5)†† | 2.5 ± 1.2 | 2.4 ± 1.5 | 2.5 ± 1.2 | −0.1 (−0.6–0.5) |
| Survival time, days‡‡ | 524.3 ± 406.5 | 496.1 ± 316.3 | 530.5 ± 424.6 |
Note: Independent-samples t-tests (two-tailed) were calculated to determine statistical significance for continuous variables. Pearson chi-square tests and Fisher exact tests, in cases in which contingency table cell counts were small, were used for discrete variables. Log-rank chi-square tests were used for survival time
P <.05.
Values have been log-transformed because of positively skewed distributions.
Estimates the number of minutes per day required for daily care.
Any routine use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, opiates, or anxiolytics.
Approximate number of hours participants spent in group activities (e.g., social hour, exercise class, bus trips) per month.
Approximate number of hours participants spent watching television per month.
Includes cross-sectional and longitudinal outcomes.
Perceived burden of caring for a particular resident on a daily basis.
Median follow-up time of 437 days. Date of discharge could not be ascertained for 12 participants who died in a nursing home unit (n = 4), or at a medical hospital (n = 8). For these cases, date of discharge to more-intensive care level was approximated as the midpoint between dates of last known time residing in assisted living (AL) and death. In another four cases with unknown discharge dates, death occurred in an unknown location (n = 3) or at another AL (n = 1).
SD = standard deviation; NPI = Neuropsychiatric Inventory.