Improving care of older adults with dementia: description of 6299 hospitalizations over 11 years in a special acute care unit

Respectful Caring for the Agitated Elderly (ReCAGE): A Multicentre, Prospective, Observational Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Special Care Units for People with Dementia

BACKGROUND

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) bring complexity in the clinical management of people with dementia; therefore, it is important to evaluate different models of care, such as Special Care Units (SCU-B).∥Objective:To evaluate the SCU-B effectiveness toward alleviating BPSD and improving the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their caregivers.∥Methods:ReCAGE was a multicenter, controlled, longitudinal study where 508 patients with BPSD were enrolled in two cohorts: 262 patients from centers endowed with a SCU-B, and 246 from centers without SCU-B. Statistical analyses included factorial ANCOVA for comparison among centers. The primary endpoint was effectiveness of the SCU-B, measured through the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) changes. Secondary endpoints were change in QoL of patients and caregivers, and the tertiary endpoint was time to nursing home admission.∥Results:The NPI scores decreased in both arms, with a statistically significant difference from baseline to 36 months (p < 0.0001) in both cohorts. Over time, NPI decreased more steeply during the first year in the SCU-B arm, but in the following two years the slope was clearly in favor of the control arm. This different pattern of the two cohorts reached statistical significance at the interaction "cohort by time" (p < 0.0001). Conflicting results were found regarding the outcomes of quality of life, while there were no differences in time to institutionalization in both cohorts.∥Conclusion:The RECage study did not confirm the long-term superiority of the pathway comprising a SCU-B. A post-hoc analysis revealed data supporting their acute effectiveness during behavioral crises.

Impact of standardizing care for agitation in dementia using an integrated care pathway on an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated care pathway (ICP), including a medication algorithm, to treat agitation associated with dementia.

DESIGN

Analyses of data (both prospective and retrospective) collected during routine clinical care.

SETTING

Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Unit.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with agitation associated with dementia (n = 28) who were treated as part of the implementation of the ICP and those who received treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 28) on the same inpatient unit before the implementation of the ICP. Two control groups of patients without dementia treated on the same unit contemporaneously to the TAU (n = 17) and ICP groups (n = 36) were included to account for any secular trends.

INTERVENTION

ICP.

MEASUREMENTS

Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPIQ), and assessment of motor symptoms were completed during the ICP implementation. Chart review was used to obtain length of inpatient stay and rates of psychotropic polypharmacy.

RESULTS

Patients in the ICP group experienced a reduction in their scores on the CMAI and NPIQ and no changes in motor symptoms. Compared to the TAU group, the ICP group had a higher chance of an earlier discharge from hospital, a lower rate of psychotropic polypharmacy, and a lower chance of having a fall during hospital stay. In contrast, these outcomes did not differ between the two control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results suggest that an ICP can be used effectively to treat agitation associated with dementia in inpatients. A larger randomized study is needed to confirm these results.

A Non-Pharmacologic Approach to Manage Behaviours in Confused Medically Ill Older Adults in Acute Care

Background

Non-pharmacological interventions are recommended to manage challenging behaviours among cognitively impaired older adults, however few studies have enrolled patients in acute care. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing non-pharmacological interventions to manage behaviours in hospitalized older adults.

Method

A self-identity approach was used to identify potentially engaging activities for 13 older medically ill adults admitted to acute hospital; these activities were trialed for a two-week period. Data were collected on frequency of intervention administration and assistance required, as well as frequency of behaviours and neuroleptic use in the seven days prior to and following the trial of activities.

Results

Per participant, 5–11 interventions were prescribed. Most frequently interventions were tried two or more times (46%); 9% were not tried at all. Staff or family assistance was not required for 27% of activities. The mean number of documented behaviours across participants was 4.8 ± 2.3 in the pre-intervention period and 2.1 ± 1.9 in the post-intervention period. Overall the interventions were feasible and did not result in increasing neuroleptic use

Conclusion

Non-pharmacologic interventions may be feasible to implement in acute care. More research in this area is justified.

Health workers perception on telemedicine in management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-term care facilities: Two years follow-up

The management of neuropsychiatric symptoms is a challenge in long-term care facilities. Our objective was to assess the perception of telemedicine, as a useful tool to connect staff to specialized units. In this multicenter prospective study, 90 patients from ten facilities benefited from 180 sessions over two years. The primary outcome was the perception of telemedicine evaluated through semi-structured interviews at baseline and two years later. Our results revealed positive perceptions of telemedicine, confirmed after two years of real-life experience with its use. Not only do staff members believe that telemedicine is not a downgraded version of medicine, but they also believe that it could improve the quality of care. They expressed a very positive sense of recognition of their professional qualifications and indicated their need to be involved in change processes to ensure successful implementation and better adherence to telemedicine as a service.

Acute Healthcare Utilization of a Multidisciplinary Neurocognitive Dementia Patient Cohort

Background and Purpose

Upon referral from the primary care provider (PCP), dementia is diagnosed either by a neuropsychological evaluation (NPE) or at a multidisciplinary neurocognitive clinic (MNC). Following the NPE, patients continue receiving care from their PCP. In contrast, patients at the MNC are followed by a multidisciplinary care team that provides expertise across specialties in dementia care and education for the patient, family members, and care providers. The purpose of the study was to determine the utilization of acute healthcare services during the 2 years following a diagnosis of dementia in patients from the MNC and NPE.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of 581 electronic medical records from January 2010 through December 2014 for 2 cohorts of patients diagnosed with dementia 1) by a neuropsychologist or 2) in a MNC. Acute-care hospital admissions, emergency room (ER) visits, and nonroutine PCP visits were identified. Categorical demographics and utilization variables were summarized by frequency. Chi-square analysis was used to analyze demographic characteristics and overall utilization between MNCs and NPE. Utilization in comparison with various demographic characteristics was analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients and negative binomial regressions.

Results

Patients evaluated in the MNC were older, more severely impaired, and lived alone more often compared with NPE patients, but there was no increase in hospital admissions and ER visits. Patients who underwent NPE were 1.58 times more likely to have a nonroutine PCP office visit than patients evaluated in the MNC (p=0.0093).

Conclusions

Performing follow-up in multidisciplinary clinics provides patients with more education and may help to reduce the utilization of healthcare services.

Bidirectional relationship between caregiver burden and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A narrative review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to make a state of the art of the potential influence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPs) on caregiver stress and vice versa.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for potential eligible articles.

RESULTS

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) usually need high levels of care in all activities of daily living, most of them provided by family members, friends, or informal caregivers. Caregivers have to cope with both age-related conditions and dementia-related factors. Therefore, caregiving in dementia is more difficult and stressful than caregiving for older adults, affected by other conditions. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, agitation, disinhibition, aggressive behavior, and sleep disturbances are more closely related to caregiver burden, and associated with more negative outcomes such as decline in their general health, quality of life, and social isolation. Caregiver burden worsens relationship between caregiver and patients with AD. Thus, this relationship may increase the frequency and severity of NPs. Predictors of burden were being a woman, a spouse, and old person with immature coping mechanisms, social isolation, with insufficient knowledge about dementia, poor premorbid relationship with patient, and high levels of negative expressed emotions.

CONCLUSION

Because of the bidirectional relationship between caregiver burden and NPs, the active management strategies of dementia care should include early identification and treatment risk factors for both caregiver stress and NPs in patients with AD. Therefore, to improve one of them can be exert beneficial for the other.

[Special care units for patients with cognitive impairment : Results of a nationwide survey in geriatric hospitals in Germany]

BACKGROUND

A large number of older acutely ill patients with cognitive impairment are treated in geriatric care units. Since 1990 some geriatric departments in Germany have established special care units (SCU) for this patient population. In 2010 the first inventory of SCUs in Germany was carried out, which was not based on a nationwide systematic survey.

OBJECTIVE

Nationwide systematic survey of SCUs for patients with cognitive impairment in geriatric institutions in Germany.

METHODS

An online questionnaire (SurveyMonkey®, San Mateo, CA, USA) was sent to all heads of geriatric departments that provide advanced education in geriatric medicine of at least 12 months as registered by the German Society for Geriatric Medicine (DGG).

RESULTS

The questionnaire was sent to 495 geriatric institutions of which 161 answered (response rate 32.5%). Additionally, 13 institutions answered through a weblink sent in a newsletter by the DGG. In 2017 a total of 42 SCUs existed with a mean size of 13.5 ± 4.7 beds. A further 15 hospitals plan to install an SCU in the near future, 5 probably in 2018. In four geriatric departments an existing SCU was closed down. All SCUs implemented special architectural, structural and personnel measures as recommended by the position paper of the DGG. The few conducted evaluations indicated beneficial results for mobility and disruptive behavior.

CONCLUSION

In recent years the number of SCUs has increased considerably. A methodologically sound evaluation with respect to patient-related outcomes including follow-up and cost-effectiveness is lacking and should be carried out in the near future.

Hospital outcomes of older people with cognitive impairment: An integrative review

OBJECTIVES

To summarise existing knowledge of outcomes of older hospital patients with cognitive impairment, including the type and frequency of outcomes reported, and the additional risk experienced by this patient group.

METHODS

Integrative literature review. Health care literature databases, reports, and policy documents on key websites were systematically searched. Papers describing the outcomes of older people with cognitive impairment during hospitalisation and at discharge were analysed and summarised using integrative methods.

RESULTS

One hundred four articles were included. A range of outcomes were identified, including those occurring during hospitalisation and at discharge. Older people with a dementia diagnosis were at higher risk from death in hospital, nursing home admission, long lengths of stay, as well as intermediate outcomes such as delirium, falls, dehydration, reduction in nutritional status, decline in physical and cognitive function, and new infections in hospital. Fewer studies examined the relationship of all-cause cognitive impairment with outcomes. Patient and carer experiences of hospital admission were often poor. Few studies collected data relating to hospital environment, eg, ward type or staffing levels, and acuity of illness was rarely described.

CONCLUSIONS

Older people with cognitive impairment have a higher risk of a variety of negative outcomes in hospital. Prevalent intermediate outcomes suggest that changes in care processes are required to ensure maintenance of fundamental care provision and greater attention to patient safety in this vulnerable group. More research is required to understand the most appropriate ways of doing this and how changes in these care processes are best implemented to improve hospital outcomes.

Telemedicine for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-term care facilities: the DETECT study, methods of a cluster randomised controlled trial to assess feasibility

INTRODUCTION

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in elderly patients with dementia are frequent in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and are associated with adverse events. Telemedicine is an emerging way to provide consultation and care to dependent LTCF residents who may not have easy access to specialty services. Several studies have evaluated telemedicine for dementia care but to date, no study has evaluated its impact in the management of NPS in patients with dementia living in LTCF.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Dementia in long-term care facilities: Telemedicine for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (DETECT) study is a 24-month multicentre prospective cluster randomised controlled study with two arms: a control arm (usual care) and an intervention arm (telemedicine consultation) for NPSs management. DETECT enrolled 20 LTCFs. The primary outcome is based on the acceptability of the telemedicine among the LTCF staff which will be assessed in the intervention group by quantitative and qualitative indicators. The rate of unscheduled hospitalisations and/or consultations due to disruptive NPSs, psychotropic drug use and health costs will be described in both groups. Approximately, 200 patients are expected to be recruited.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol was approved and sponsored by the French Ministry of Health. The study received ethical approval from the Toulouse University Hospital Institutional Review Board. We will communicate the final results to the public via conferences and results will also be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02472015.

Quality of acute care for persons with cognitive impairment and their families: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of older persons with cognitive impairment use inpatient services for co-occurring acute illness. Research has demonstrated that persons with cognitive impairment face more adverse health outcomes during hospitalization than their age counterparts without cognitive impairment. As hospitals tend to be ill equipped to meet the complex care needs of this population, various initiatives underscore the need to better utilize existing evidence to improve quality of care.

OBJECTIVES

To map the extent of knowledge about quality of acute care in inpatient settings, and to synthesize knowledge on strategies to improve quality care for persons with cognitive impairment and their families.

DESIGN

A scoping review using Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL and Medline were searched and reference lists of pertinent articles screened to identify publications regarding acute care for persons with cognitive impairment.

REVIEW METHODS

Two reviewers independently screened and identified publications based on eligibility criteria. Publications were included if they targeted acute care issues relating to persons with cognitive impairment 65 years or older, their family members, or health professionals caring for them, and were published after 2000 in English or German. Publications were read and data were extracted using a predefined template. Thematic analysis was conducted by two reviewers.

RESULTS

Of the 1445 identified publications, 66 were included. Quality of acute inpatient services pertained to structural (such as staff capacity and knowledge) and process dimensions (such as forming a caring relationship, assessing and intervening). Strategies identified to improve care quality included interventions at the point of care, such as specific tools and specialist roles to improve patient outcomes, as well as educational and training interventions to enable staff to care for this patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a discrepancy between clearly defined best practice for persons with cognitive impairment utilising inpatient services, and the quality of care actually experienced by patients, family members, and staff. Research reveals a sobering picture of inadequate care and manifold challenges encountered by this patient group, family members and staff alike. Promising strategies to improve care quality target health professionals' knowledge and capacity to work with this group and include specific tools and models of care, such as specialist roles and units. Organisation-wide efforts to ensure quality care for this patient group are needed, as is further research to determine which implementation and intervention strategies achieve the most beneficial outcomes for all involved.

Reduction of the Anticholinergic Burden Makes It Possible to Decrease Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a reduction of the anticholinergic burden (AB) on the frequency and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and their repercussions on the care team (occupational disruptiveness).

METHODS

In this prospective, single-center study in an acute care unit for Alzheimer disease (AD) and related disorders, 125 elderly subjects (mean age: 84.4 years) with dementia presented with BPSD. The reduction of the AB was evaluated by the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. BPSD were evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH). The effect of the reduction of the AB on the BPSD was studied using logistic regression adjusting for the variables of the comprehensive geriatric assessment.

RESULTS

Seventy-one subjects (56.8%) presenting with probable AD, 32 (25.6%) mixed dementia (AD and vascular), 17 (13.6%) vascular dementia, and 5 (4.0%) Lewy body dementia were included. Reducing the AB by at least 20% enabled a significant decrease in the frequency × severity scores of the NPI-NH (adjusted odds ratio: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-7.9) and of the occupational disruptiveness score (adjusted odds ratio: 9.9; 95% confidence interval: 3.6-27.3).

CONCLUSION

AB reduction in elderly subjects with dementia makes is possible to reduce BPSD and caregiver burden. Recourse to treatments involving an AB must be avoided as much as possible in these patients, and preferential use of nonpharmacologic treatment management plans is encouraged.

Development and validation of clinical profiles of patients hospitalized due to behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

BACKGROUND

Patients hospitalized on acute psychogeriatric wards are a heterogeneous population. Cluster analysis is a useful statistical method for partitioning a sample of patients into well separated groups of patients who present common characteristics. Several patient profile studies exist, but they are not adapted to acutely hospitalized psychogeriatric patients with cognitive impairment. The present study aims to partition patients hospitalized due to behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia into profiles based on a global evaluation of mental health using cluster analysis.

METHODS

Using nine of the 13 items from the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for elderly people (HoNOS65+), data were collected from a sample of 542 inpatients with dementia who were hospitalized between 2011 and 2014 in acute psychogeriatric wards of a Swiss university hospital. An optimal clustering solution was generated to represent various profiles, by using a mixed approach combining hierarchical and non-hierarchical (k-means) cluster analyses associated with a split-sample cross-validation. The quality of the clustering solution was evaluated based on a cross-validation, on a k-means method with 100 random initial seeds, on validation indexes, and on clinical interpretation.

RESULTS

The final solution consisted of four clinically distinct and homogeneous profiles labeled (1) BPSD-affective, (2) BPSD-functional, (3) BPSD-somatic and (4) BPSD-psychotic according to their predominant clinical features. The four profiles differed in cognitive status, length of hospital stay, and legal admission status.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, clustering methods allowed us to identify four profiles with distinctive characteristics. This clustering solution may be developed into a classification system that may allow clinicians to differentiate patient needs in order to promptly identify tailored interventions and promote better allocation of available resources.

Cognitive Impairment in Hospitalized Seniors

Cognitive disorders are highly prevalent in hospitalized seniors, and can be due to delirium, dementia, as well as other disorders. Hospitalization can have adverse cognitive effects, and cognitive dysfunction adversely affects hospital outcomes. In this article, the literature is reviewed on how hospitalization affects cognitive function and how cognitive impairment affects hospital outcomes. Possible interventions in cognitively impaired hospitalized seniors are reviewed.

Multimorbidity type, hospitalizations and emergency department visits among nursing home residents: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

The burden of multimorbidity in institutionalized elderly is poorly investigated. We examined the associations of the type of multimorbidity (i.e., physical, mental or both) with the number of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in nursing home (NH) residents.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study among NH residents. Information on residents' health, number of hospitalizations in the last 12 months and hospital department of admission (having been seen in ED vs. non) was recorded by NH staff of 175 French NHs (data was collected in 2011). Participants were screened for the presence of several mental (e.g., dementia) and physical conditions (e.g., diabetes).

RESULTS

Data on hospitalization was available for 6076 NH residents. Compared to having no diseases, the concomitant presence of ≥ 2 physical conditions was the multimorbidity type more strongly associated with both the number of hospitalizations (incidence rate ratio (IRR) =1.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.57 - 2.37) and ED visits (odds ratio (OR)= 1.79; 95% CI=1.24 - 2.58). The presence of a mental condition appeared to moderate the associations between physical conditions and hospitalizations, since the estimate effects were lower among people who had both physical and mental conditions, compared to those with only physical conditions. For example, compared to people with ≥ 2 physical conditions, those with multiple physical and mental conditions had lower IRR (IRR = 0.84; 95% CI=0.75 - 0.95) for the number of hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental diseases in very old and multimorbid NH residents probably moderate the associations between physical diseases and hospitalizations. To what extent this represents either a mirror of better clinical practice in NHs or the under-recognition from the NH staff of symptoms leading to justifiable hospitalizations remains unclear.

[Special care units for acutely ill patients with cognitive impairment in Germany. Position paper]

BACKGROUND

Dementia is an increasing challenge for care providers in nursing homes and hospitals. Since the 1980s, special acute care units in nursing homes have developed rapidly. In Germany, the first unit in a hospital opened in 1990. In 2013, there were 22 units.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the following paper, the German Geriatric Society ("Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geriatrie e. V.") recommends basic standards for these wards.

RESULTS

The basic standards for these wards include the following: a maximum of 20 beds, an area physically separated from the geriatric hospital department, their own dayroom and therapy room, a structured daily routine suitable for patients with dementia, the selection of permanent staff on a voluntary basis, specialized training, extended geriatric assessment, and special consideration of the background and social situation of the patients.

Medication development for agitation and aggression in Alzheimer disease: review and discussion of recent randomized clinical trial design

ABSTRACT Background: The management of disruptive neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS) such as agitation and aggression (A/A) is a major priority in caring for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Few effective pharmacological or non-pharmacological options are available. Results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of drugs for A/A have been disappointing. This may result from the absence of biological efficacy for medications tested in treating A/A. It may also be related to methodological issues such as the choice of outcomes. The aim of this review was to highlight key methodological issues pertaining to RCTs of current and emerging medications for the treatment of A/A in AD. Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov for RCTs comparing medications with either placebo or other drugs in the treatment of A/A in AD, between January 2008 and December 2013. Results: We identified a total of 18 RCTs; of these, 11 were completed and 7 ongoing. Of the ongoing RCTs, only one is in Phase III. Seven of 10 completed RCTs with reported results did not report greater benefit from drug than placebo. Each of the completed RCTs used a different definition of "clinically significant A/A." There was considerable heterogeneity in study design. The primary endpoints were largely proxy-based but a variety of scales were used. The definition of caregiver and scales used to assess caregiver outcomes were similarly heterogeneous. Placebo response was notable in all trials. Conclusions: This review highlights a great heterogeneity in RCTs design of drugs for A/A in AD and some key methodological issues such as definition of A/A, choice of outcome measures and caregiver participation that could be addressed by an expert consensus to optimize future trials design.

[Hospitalization and dementia: what was new in 2012?: literature review]

The present work provides a review of literature published in 2012 that were found in a PubMed search with the terms "hospitalization and dementia. Further information was obtained from personal contacts. The rate of publications was ten times higher in 2012 as in previous years. Frequency of dementia, hospital admission, acute coronary syndrome, femoral neck fracture, stroke, complications during hospital stay, outcomes after hospitalization, prediction, rehabilitation, and training are the common topics.

A follow-up intervention in severely demented patients after discharge from a special Alzheimer acute care unit: impact on early emergency room re-hospitalization rate

BACKGROUND

Emergency room (ER) re-hospitalizations are prevalent in severe Alzheimer's disease affected older patients.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental before and after study.

SETTING

Discharge of severely demented patients from a Special Alzheimer Acute Care Unit.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 390 patients hospitalized in the unit from 2007 through 2009, with at least one of the following characteristics: severe disruptive behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) (agitation, aggressiveness, and psychotic symptoms), change of living arrangement related to BPSD, exhaustion of the principal caregiver, and discharge of a subject with anosognosia living alone in the community.

INTERVENTION

The intervention consisted of an individualized care plan, targeting the problems observed during the hospital stay, implemented by the means of regular telephone contacts (in the first week after discharge, before the end of the first month, and then at 3 and 6 months) between a geriatric team and the patient's caregiver. Information was gathered on functional decline, BPSD, change of living arrangement and treatment. The calls were followed by a telephone intervention providing advice, support, and information to the caregiver. When required, these calls were followed by a consultation with a physician or psychologist, or by a consultation in the patient's home.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome measure was the ER re-hospitalization rate, defined as occurring within 31 days of discharge.

RESULTS

The early ER re-hospitalization rate was 8.39% in 2007 versus 8.02% in 2008 (p = 0.818) and 7.47% in 2009 (p = 0.563). Vocal disruptive behavior are more prevalent in re-hospitalized patients (9.64% versus 3.97%, p = 0.05) than in non re-hospitalized patients.

CONCLUSION

We found a nonsignificant decrease of early ER re-hospitalization rate at 1 month after discharge. Interventions addressing severe dementia affected patients with BPSD are needed, as this is a major issue in the organization of health care systems.