Care coordination for cognitively impaired older adults and their caregivers

Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia

Adult child caregivers of persons with severe dementia (PWSDs) experience absenteeism due to caregiving. We quantified employed adult child caregivers' absenteeism; its association with PWSDs' functional impairment and health shocks; and characteristics of caregivers not experiencing absenteeism in the presence of PWSDs' health shocks and high functional impairment. We used a prospective cohort of 111 employed adult child caregivers of community-dwelling PWSDs in Singapore surveyed every 4 months for 1 year. We calculated absenteeism days due to caregiving and the corresponding absenteeism cost. Findings showed that 43% of the caregivers experienced absenteeism due to caregiving at least once during 1 year. On average, in a month, caregivers experienced 2.3 (SD = 5.9) absenteeism days and S$758 (SD = 2120) absenteeism cost. Those caring for PWSDs with high functional impairment experienced an additional 2.5 absenteeism days and S$788 absenteeism cost versus caregivers of PWSDs with low functional impairment. Caregivers whose PWSDs experienced a health shock experienced an additional 1.8 absenteeism days and S$772 absenteeism cost versus caregivers of PWSDs without a health shock. Co-residence with PWSDs worsened the impact of PSWDs' high functional impairment on caregivers absenteeism. Caregivers not co-residing with PWSDs and not using a maladaptive coping style were less likely to experience absenteeism when caring for PWSDs with a health shock. Results suggest a need to support caregivers of PWSDs to better cope with their caregiving in order to mitigate caregivers' absenteeism.

Does home and community-based services use reduce hospital utilization and hospital expenditure among disabled elders? Evidence from China

Introduction

In the background of aging in place, home and community-based services (HCBS) have been playing an increasingly important role in long-term care (LTC) security systems. However, it is still uncertain whether and how HCBS use affects hospital utilization and the corresponding expenditures.

Methods

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) and the China City Statistical Yearbook, the instrumental variable (IV) approach is applied to identify the causal effects of HCBS use on hospital utilization and hospital expenditure among disabled elders.

Results

We find that HCBS use significantly reduces the probability of being hospitalized, the times of hospitalization, and the length of inpatient stay, as well as the total, out-of-pocket and reimbursement inpatient expenditures, demonstrating not only the substitution impact of HCBS for hospital care but also the effectiveness of medical expenditure control in LTC security systems. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impacts of HCBS use on hospital utilization and hospital expenditure concentrate on disabled elders who are younger, male, living in urban areas, or from higher-income households; both healthcare and spiritual consolation services have significant negative effects, while the anticipated effects of daily care service use are not supported. The possible mechanisms are the substitution of HCBS for hospital care and the improvements in both the physical and psychological health of disabled elders. However, the mechanism of adverse events decrease is not verified, which needs to be investigated further with more proxy variables.

Conclusion

This study provides empirical evidence that HCBS use can not only reduce hospital utilization and hospital expenditure among disabled elders but also improve their physical and psychological health. Policy designs should emphasize the orientation of HCBS, ensure the fundamental and central position of HCBS in the formal care service system, pay more attention to the accessibility and affordability of HCBS for fragile groups, and diversify and optimize the development of the health service and the spiritual consolation service.

Home Healthcare Patients With Distinct Psychological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Symptom Profiles and At-Risk Subgroup for Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits Using Latent Class Analysis

One-third of home healthcare patients are hospitalized or visit emergency departments during a 60-day episode of care. Among all risk factors, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms often remain underdiagnosed or undertreated in older adults. Little is known on subgroups of older adults receiving home healthcare services with similar psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptom profiles and an at-risk subgroup for future hospitalization and emergency department visits. Our cross-sectional study used data from a large, urban home healthcare organization (n = 87,943). Latent class analysis was conducted to identify meaningful subgroups of older adults based on their distinct psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptom profiles. Adjusted multiple logistic regression was used to understand the association between the latent subgroup and future hospitalization and emergency department visits. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to describe the individual characteristics and to test for significant differences. The three-class model consisted of Class 1: "Moderate psychological symptoms without behavioral issues," Class 2: "Severe psychological symptoms with behavioral issues," and Class 3: "Mild psychological symptoms without behavioral issues." Compared to Class 3, Class 1 patients had 1.14 higher odds and Class 2 patients had 1.26 higher odds of being hospitalized or visiting emergency departments. Significant differences were found in individual characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance. Home healthcare clinicians should consider the different latent subgroups of older adults based on their psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. In addition, they should provide timely assessment and intervention especially to those at-risk for hospitalization and emergency department visits.

Mapping implementation strategies of evidence-based interventions for three preselected phenomena in people with dementia-a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Caring for people with dementia is complex, and there are various evidence-based interventions. However, a gap exists between the available interventions and how to implement them. The objectives of our review are to identify implementation strategies, implementation outcomes, and influencing factors for the implementation of evidence-based interventions that focus on three preselected phenomena in people with dementia: (A) behavior that challenges supporting a person with dementia in long-term care, (B) delirium in acute care, and (C) postacute care needs.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review according to the description of the Joanna Briggs Institute. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. For the data analysis, we conducted deductive content analysis. For this analysis, we used the Expert Recommendations for Implementation Change (ERIC), implementation outcomes according to Proctor and colleagues, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

RESULTS

We identified 362 (A), 544 (B), and 714 records (C) on the three phenomena and included 7 (A), 3 (B), and 3 (C) studies. Among the studies, nine reported on the implementation strategies they used. Clusters with the most reported strategies were adapt and tailor to context and train and educate stakeholders. We identified one study that tested the effectiveness of the applied implementation strategy, while ten studies reported implementation outcomes (mostly fidelity). Regarding factors that influence implementation, all identified studies reported between 1 and 19 factors. The most reported factors were available resources and the adaptability of the intervention. To address dementia-specific influencing factors, we enhanced the CFIR construct of patient needs and resources to include family needs and resources.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high degree of homogeneity across the different dementia phenomena, the evidence-based interventions, and the care settings in terms of the implementation strategies used, implementation outcomes measured, and influencing factors identified. However, it remains unclear to what extent implementation strategies themselves are evidence-based and which intervention strategy can be used by practitioners when either the implementation outcomes are not adjusted to the implementation strategy and/or the effects of implementation strategies are mostly unknown. Future research needs to focus on investigating the effectiveness of implementation strategies for evidence-based interventions for dementia care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The review protocol was prospectively published (Manietta et al., BMJ Open 11:e051611, 2021).

An integrative review of measures of transitions and care coordination for persons living with dementia and their caregivers

Introduction

High rates of hospital visits and readmissions are common among persons living with dementia, resulting in frequent transitions in care and care coordination. This paper identifies and evaluates existing measures of transitions and care coordination for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

Methods

This integrative review builds off a prior review using a systematic search of online databases (PubMed, EBSCO, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus) to identify records and locate reports (or articles) that use measures of care transitions and care coordination. Identified measures were compared to the Alzheimer's Association's Dementia Care Practice Recommendations to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the measure in this population, such as if measures were person- and family-centered.

Results

Seventy-one reports using measures of transitions in care and care coordination for persons living with dementia and their caregivers were identified. There were multiple measures identified in some reports. Three main areas of measures were classified into: identification of the population (3 measures, 8 reports), transitional care and care coordination delivery (14 measures, 17 reports), and transitional care and care coordination outcomes (e.g., health-care use, cost, and mortality; 17 measures, 60 reports). A strength of the three main areas of measures was that a portion of the measures were person- and family-centered. Variability in the operational definitions of some measures and time intensiveness of collecting the measure (e.g., number of items, the time it takes to complete the items) were common weaknesses.

Discussion

Transitions and care coordination measures are varied across studies targeted at persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Existing measures focus heavily on outcomes, specifically health-care resource use, and cost, rather than the elements of transitional care or care coordination. Future measure development focused on care transitions and service coordination is needed.

'Investing' in care for old age? An examination of long-term care expenditure dynamics and its spillovers

We study the dynamic drivers of expenditure on long-term care (LTC) programmes, and more specifically, the effects of labour market participation of traditional unpaid caregivers (women aged 40 and older) on LTC spending, alongside the spillover effects of a rise in LTC expenditure on health care expenditures (HCE) and the economy (per capita GDP). Our estimates draw from a panel of more than a decade worth of expenditure data from a sample of OECD countries. We use a panel vector auto-regressive (panel-VAR) system that considers the dynamics between the dependent variables. We find that LTC expenditure increases with the rise of the labour market participation of the traditional unpaid caregiver (women over 40 years of age), and that such expenditures rise exerts large spillover effects on health spending and the economy. We find that a 1% increase in female labour participation gives rise to a 1.48% increase in LTC expenditure and a 0.88% reduction in HCE. The effect of LTC spending over HCE is mainly driven by a reduction in inpatient and medicine expenditures, exhibiting large country heterogeneity. Finally, we document significant spillover effects of LTC expenditures on per capita GDP.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00181-022-02246-0.

Interventions to support recovery following an episode of delirium: A realist synthesis

OBJECTIVES

Persistent delirium is associated with poor outcomes in older adults but little is known about how to support longer-term recovery from delirium. The aim of this review was to identify and synthesise literature to understand mechanisms of recovery from delirium as a basis for designing an intervention that enables more effective recovery.

METHODS

A systematic search of literature relevant to the research question was conducted in two phases. Phase one focused on studies evaluating the efficacy of interventions to support recovery from delirium, and stage two used a wider search strategy to identify other relevant literature including similar patient groups and wider methodologies. Synthesis of the literature followed realist principles.

RESULTS

Phase one identified four relevant studies and stage two identified a further forty-six studies. Three interdependent recovery domains and four recovery facilitators were identified. Recovery domains were 1) support for physical recovery through structured exercise programmes; 2) support for cognitive recovery through reality orientation and cognitive stimulation; 3) support for emotional recovery through talking with skilled helpers. Recovery facilitators were 1) involvement and support of carers; 2) tailoring intervention to individual needs, preferences and abilities; 3) interpersonal connectivity and continuity in relationships and; 4) facilitating positive expressions of self.

CONCLUSIONS

Multicomponent interventions with elements that address all recovery domains and facilitators may have the most promise. Future research should build on this review and explore patients', carers', and professionals' tacit theories about the persistence of delirium or recovery from delirium in order to inform an effective intervention.

Health care transitions for persons living with dementia and their caregivers

BACKGROUND

Persons with dementia are likely to require care from various health care providers in multiple care settings, necessitating navigation through an often-fragmented care system. This study aimed to create a better understanding of care transition experiences from the perspectives of persons living with dementia and their caregivers in Ontario, Canada, through the development of a theoretical framework.

METHODS

Constructivist grounded theory guided the study. Seventeen individual caregiver interviews, and 12 dyad interviews including persons with dementia and their caregivers, were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were coded using NVivo 10 software; analysis occurred iteratively until saturation was reached.

RESULTS

A theoretical framework outlining the context, processes, and influencing factors of care transitions was developed and refined. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the complex care transitions of individuals with dementia and their caregivers is an important step in improving the quality of care and life for this population.

CONCLUSION

The framework developed in this study provides a focal point for efforts to improve the health care transitions of persons living with dementia.

Effects of a Person Centered Dementia Training Program in Greek Hospital Staff-Implementation and Evaluation

People with Dementia (PwD) are frequently admitted in general hospitals. However, health care professionals have lack of dementia knowledge, negative attitudes toward dementia, and lack of confidence in caring those patients. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate a dementia staff training program in Greek general hospitals. It was a repeated-measures research design. Fourteen (14) two-day workshops were conducted, consisting of six targeted and interactive modules. Staff members (N = 242) attended the program and were assessed according to (1) individual performance: questionnaires about attitudes towards dementia, confidence in care, knowledge about dementia and anxiety before, immediately after the training and three months later, (2) an overall training evaluation immediately after the training and (3) an evaluation of training implementation three months later. Positive attitudes towards dementia, improvement of confidence in care and decrease of feeling of anxiety as a trait, were sustained over time. Knowledge about dementia also increased after the training and sustained, with, however, a slight decrease over time. A well applied training program seems to provide the basis of a better care in PwD during hospitalization. However, changes in the organizational level and a transformation of care culture are necessary for training sustainability over time.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Serious Psychological Distress Among Those With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is a growing public health challenge. Prior research suggests that non-Hispanic whites (whites), non-Hispanic African Americans (African Americans), and Hispanics have differing risks for ADRD.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the existence of serious psychological distress (SPD) among whites, African Americans, and Hispanics; to calculate the predicted probability of ADRD in whites, African Americans, and Hispanics, and to decompose the differences among ADRD populations, quantifying the burden of higher SPD among African Americans and Hispanics, compared to whites.

DATA AND METHOD

The authors use nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2007-2015) to estimate the association between ADRD and race, ethnicity, and SPD. Using Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis, the authors estimate to what extent higher SPD among Hispanics and African Americans was associated with higher ADRD rates compared to whites.

RESULTS

After controlling for individuals' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and co-existing medical conditions, the presence of SPD was still significantly associated with a higher likelihood of having ADRD. The model predicted significantly higher likelihood of having ADRD among African Americans (7.1%) and Hispanics (5.7%) compared to whites (4.5%). Higher rates of having SPD among African Americans explained 15% of white-black difference and 40% of the white-Hispanic difference in ADRD rates, respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a significant relationship between SPD and ADRD and that the burden of SPD was greater among African Americans and Hispanics with ADRD. Efficient screening using self-reported SPD, compared to simply using diagnoses codes of mental illness, may be more helpful to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in ADRD.

Delirium monitoring and management in the acute care setting

Associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, delirium is a syndrome commonly experienced by hospitalized adults. This article presents a case study highlighting how delirium may go unrecognized by the healthcare team and provides 10 suggestions for improving delirium assessment, prevention, and management in the acute care setting.

Differences in Transitional Care Provided to Patients With and Without Dementia

Older adults with dementia experience more care transitions than those without dementia yet are routinely excluded from transitional care studies. The purpose of the current study was to understand the transitional care delivered to older adults with dementia compared to those without dementia. The medical charts of 210 patients (126 with dementia, 84 without dementia) 70 years and older hospitalized at a single hospital were reviewed for evidence of transitional care, including discharge planning, patient education, and follow-up appointments. Patients with dementia were significantly less likely to receive education related to their follow-up needs, whom to contact after discharge, medication regimens after discharge, and symptoms after discharge than patients without dementia. Caregivers to patients with dementia have previously reported a desire for more education and information from hospital providers so they can advocate for patients in aftercare; therefore, nurses and social workers should consider providing education regardless of a patient's dementia diagnosis. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45(8), 15-22.].

Does long-term care subsidization reduce hospital admissions and utilization?

We use quasi-experimental evidence on the expansion of the public subsidization of long-term care to examine the causal effect of a change in caregiving affordability on the delivery of hospital care. More specifically, we examine a reform that both introduced a new caregiving allowance and expanded the availability of publicly funded home care services, on both hospital admissions (both on the internal and external margin) and length of stay. We find robust evidence of a reduction in both hospital admissions and utilization among both those receiving a caregiving allowance and, albeit less intensely, among beneficiaries of publicly funded home care, which amounts to 11% of total healthcare costs. These effects were stronger when regions had an operative regional health and social care coordination plan in place. Consistently, a subsequent reduction in the subsidy, five years after its implementation, is found to significantly attenuate such effects. We investigate a number of potential mechanisms, and show a number of falsification and robustness checks.

Quality of Life for Late Life Patients: Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Whole-Person Approach for Patients With Chronic Illnesses

Quality of life (QOL) for patients with serious illness in late life is important for patients and policy makers and has implications for improved care delivery. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the effectiveness of a new whole-person approach to late life care-the LifeCourse-which provides patients with ongoing, across-setting assistance from lay health care workers, supported by a clinical team. We investigated whether participation in LifeCourse improves QOL for intervention patients, compared with usual care controls. QOL was assessed using baseline and 6 months Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative version tool ( n = 181 patients and 126 controls). LifeCourse had a significant positive effect on overall QOL for patients when compared with controls. Interview data revealed that participants adjusted expectations when assessing QOL and actively sought out ways to maintain QOL with meaningful activities and needed services. LifeCourse offers a promising model for improving QOL for late life patients.

Informed Consent to Research with Cognitively Impaired Adults: Transdisciplinary Challenges and Opportunities

Due to issues related to informed research consent, older adults with cognitive impairments are often excluded from high-quality studies that are not directly related to cognitive impairment, which has led to a dearth of evidence for this population. The challenges to including cognitively impaired older adults in research and the implications of their exclusion are a transdisciplinary issue. The ethical challenges and logistical barriers to conducting research with cognitively impaired older adults are addressed from the perspectives of three different fields-social work, emergency medicine, and orthopaedic surgery. Issues related to funding, study design, intervention components, and outcomes are discussed through the unique experiences of three different providers. A fourth perspective-medical research ethics-provides alternatives to exclusion when conducting research with cognitively impaired older adults such as timing, corrective feedback and plain language, and capacity assessment and proxy appointments. Given the increasing aging population and the lack of evidence on cognitively impaired older adults, it is critical that researchers, funders, and institutional review boards not be dissuaded from including this population in research studies.

Factors Associated With Changes in Perceived Quality of Life Among Elderly Recipients of Long-Term Services and Supports

OBJECTIVES

Advance knowledge about changes in multiple dimensions of health related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) over time and across settings.

DESIGN

A prospective, observational, longitudinal cohort design.

SETTING

Nursing homes (NHs), assisted living facilities (ALFs), community.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 470 older adults who were first-time recipients of LTSS.

MEASUREMENT

Single-item quality-of-life measure assessed every 3 months over 2 years. HRQoL domains of emotional status, functional status, and social support were measured using standardized instruments.

RESULTS

Multivariable mixed effects model with time varying covariates revealed that quality-of-life ratings decreased over time (P < .001). Quality-of-life ratings were higher among enrollees with fewer depressive symptoms (P < .001), higher general physical function (P < .001), enhanced emotional well-being (P < .001), and greater social support (P = .004). Ratings also were higher among those with increased deficits in activities of daily living (P = .02). Ratings were highest among enrollees who received LTSS from ALFs, followed by NHs, then home and community-based services (H&CBS), but only findings between ALFs and H&CBS were statistically significant (P < .001). Finally, ratings tended to decrease over time among enrollees with greater cognitive impairment and increase over time among enrollees with less cognitive impairment (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings advance knowledge regarding what is arguably the most important outcome of elderly LTSS recipients: quality of life. Understanding associations between multiple HRQoL domains and quality of life over time and directly from LTSS recipients represents a critical step in enhancing care processes and outcomes of this vulnerable population.

Associations Between Mild Cognitive Impairment and Hospitalization and Readmission

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition not previously explored as a risk factor, have more hospitalizations and 30-day readmissions than those with normal cognition.

DESIGN

Post hoc analysis of prospectively gathered data on incident hospitalization and readmission from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (GEMS), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess the effect of Ginkgo biloba on incidence of dementia.

SETTING

GEMS was conducted in five academic medical centers in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling adults aged 75 and older with normal cognition (n = 2,314) or MCI (n = 428) at baseline cognitive testing (N = 2,742).

MEASUREMENTS

Index hospitalization and 30-day hospital readmission, adjusted for age, sex, race, education, clinic site, trial assignment status, comorbidities, number of prescription medications, and living with an identified proxy.

RESULTS

MCI was associated with a 17% greater risk of index hospitalization than normal cognition (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.34)). In participants who lived with a proxy, MCI was associated with a 39% greater risk of index hospitalization (aHR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.17-1.66). Baseline MCI was not associated with greater odds of 30-day hospital readmission (adjusted odds ratio = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.60-1.36).

CONCLUSION

MCI may represent a target condition for healthcare providers to coordinate support services in an effort to reduce hospitalization and subsequent disability.

Systematic review of planned care transitions for persons with dementia

A systematic review was conducted to identify, categorize and summarize available research on planned care transitions or relocations for persons with dementia (PWD) in order to help guide best practice. Articles were identified by keyword searches of electronic databases, and a soft search of references of relevant articles. The review found that planned care transitions in PWD are associated with an increase in undesirable outcomes, particularly immediately post-transition, and that caregivers are often underutilized in care planning and underprepared for care transitions. It is recommended that transitional care interventions for PWD make explicit efforts to enhance caregiver involvement, provide social and pragmatic support for PWD and their caregivers and offer assistance in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

A review of family carers' experiences of hospital discharge for people with dementia, and the rationale for involving service users in health research

In the UK, service user involvement is an important factor in health policy, and obtaining research funding. It may be helpful in expanding our knowledge in areas where research evidence is poor such as experiences of hospital discharge planning for the family carers of people with dementia.

Innovative interprofessional geriatric education for medical and nursing students: focus on transitions in care

BACKGROUND

Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial in fostering effective collaboration and optimal team-based patient care, all of which improve patient care and outcomes. Appropriate interprofessional communication is especially important in geriatrics where patients are vulnerable to adverse effects across the care continuum. Transitions in geriatric care are complex, involving several disciplines and requiring careful coordination. As part of the University of Virginia's initiative on IPE, we developed and implemented an interprofessional geriatric education workshop for nursing and medical students with a focus on transitions in care.

METHODS

A total of 254 students (144 medical students, 107 nursing students and 3 unknown) participated in a 90-min interactive, case-based workshop. Nursing and medical faculty facilitated the monthly workshops with small groups of medical and nursing students over 1 year. Self-perceived competencies in IPE skills and attitudes toward interprofessional teamwork were measured through post-workshop surveys. Data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics, excluding the three unknown students.

RESULTS

Over 90% of students were better able to describe the necessary interprofessional communication needed to develop a patient-centered care plan in transitioning patients between clinical sites. Four out of five students reported an enhanced appreciation of interprofessional teamwork. They were also able to identify legal, financial and social implications in transitions of care (75%). Nursing students consistently rated the workshop more highly than medical students across most domains (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Students improved and demonstrated their knowledge of interprofessional communication and teamwork skills required in transitions of geriatric care. Introducing these concepts in medical and nursing training may help in fostering effective interprofessional communication and collaboration.

"Dementia-friendly hospitals: care not crisis": an educational program designed to improve the care of the hospitalized patient with dementia

BACKGROUND

Approximately 3.2 million hospital stays annually involve a person with dementia, leading to higher costs, longer lengths of stay, and poorer outcomes. Older adults with dementia are vulnerable when hospitals are unable to meet their special needs.

METHODS

We developed, implemented, and evaluated a training program for 540 individuals at 4 community hospitals. Pretest, posttest, and a 120-day delayed posttest were performed to assess knowledge, confidence, and practice parameters.

RESULTS

The mean age of the sample was 46 years; 83% were White, 90% were female, and 60% were nurses. Upon completion, there were significant gains (P's <0.001) in knowledge and confidence in recognizing, assessing, and managing dementia. Attendees reported gains in communication skills and strategies to improve the hospital environment, patient safety, and behavioral management. At 120 days, 3 of 4 hospitals demonstrated maintenance of confidence. In the hospital that demonstrated lower knowledge and confidence scores, the sample was older and had more nurses and more years in practice.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate the feasibility of training hospital staff about dementia and its impact on patient outcomes. At baseline, there was low knowledge and confidence in the ability to care for dementia patients. Training had an immediate impact on knowledge, confidence, and attitudes with lasting impact in 3 of 4 hospitals. We identified targets for intervention and the need for ongoing training and administrative reinforcement to sustain behavioral change. Community resources, such as local chapters of the Alzheimer Association, may be key community partners in improving care outcomes for hospitalized persons with dementia.

Disruption, control and coping: responses of and to the person with dementia in hospital

This qualitative study aimed to gain insight into the experience of hospitalisation from the perspectives of the older person with dementia, their family care-giver and other patients sharing the ward (co-patients). Non-participant observation of care on 11 acute hospital wards was supplemented by 39 semi-structured interviews with 35 family care-givers and four co-patients following discharge. Constant comparative analysis produced the core problem facing all those involved: disruption from normal routine meaning that the experience of hospitalisation was disrupted by the presence and behaviour of the person with dementia. Disruption adversely affected the person with dementia, triggering constructive, disengaged, distressed and neutral behaviours. Using Kitwood's model of person-centred care, these behaviours were interpreted as attempts by the person with dementia at gaining a sense of control over the unfamiliar environment and experience. Family care-givers' lives and experiences both inside and outside the hospital were disrupted by the hospitalisation. They too attempted to gain a sense of control over the experience and to give a sense of control to the patient, co-patients and staff. Co-patients experienced disruption from sharing space with the person with dementia and were left feeling vulnerable and sometimes afraid. They too attempted to gain a sense of control over their situation and give some control by helping the person with dementia, the family care-giver and the staff.

Feasibility of "Standardized Clinician" Methodology for Patient Training on Hospital-to-Home Transitions

INTRODUCTION

Patient engagement in health care is increasingly recognized as essential for promoting the health of individuals and populations. This study pilot tested the standardized clinician (SC) methodology, a novel adaptation of standardized patient methodology, for teaching patient engagement skills for the complex health care situation of transitioning from a hospital back to home.

METHODS

Sixty-seven participants at heightened risk for hospitalization were randomly assigned to either simulation exposure-only or full-intervention group. Both groups participated in simulation scenarios with "standardized clinicians" around tasks related to hospital discharge and follow-up. The full-intervention group was also debriefed after scenario sets and learned about tools for actively participating in hospital-to-home transitions. Measures included changes in observed behaviors at baseline and follow-up and an overall program evaluation.

RESULTS

The full-intervention group showed increases in observed tool possession (P = 0.014) and expression of their preferences and values (P = 0.043). The simulation exposure-only group showed improvement in worksheet scores (P = 0.002) and fewer engagement skills (P = 0.021). Both groups showed a decrease in telling an SC about their hospital admission (P < 0.05). Open-ended comments from the program evaluation were largely positive.

CONCLUSIONS

Both groups benefited from exposure to the SC intervention. Program evaluation data suggest that simulation training is feasible and may provide a useful methodology for teaching patient skills for active engagement in health care. Future studies are warranted to determine if this methodology can be used to assess overall patient engagement and whether new patient learning transfers to health care encounters.

Studying nursing interventions in acutely ill, cognitively impaired older adults

OVERVIEW

Although it increases the risk of poor outcomes and raises the costs of care, cognitive impairment in hospitalized older adults is often neither accurately identified nor well managed. In conducting a two-phase, comparative-effectiveness clinical trial of the effects of three nursing interventions-augmented standard care, resource nurse care, and the transitional care model-on hospitalized older adults with cognitive deficits, a team of researchers encountered several challenges. For example, in assessing potential subjects for the study, they found that nearly half of those assessed had cognitive impairment, yet many family caregivers could not be identified or had no interest in participating in the study. One lesson the researchers learned was that research involving cognitively impaired older adults must actively engage clinicians, patients, and family caregivers, as well as address the complex process of managing postdischarge care.

A pilot randomized control trial: testing a transitional care model for acute psychiatric conditions

OBJECTIVE

People with multiple and persistent mental and physical health problems have high rates of transition failures when transferring from a hospital level of care to home. The transitional care model (TCM) is evidence-based and demonstrated to improve posthospital outcomes for elderly with physical health conditions, but it has not been studied in the population with serious mental illness.

METHOD

Using a randomized controlled design, 40 inpatients from two general hospital psychiatric units were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 20) that received the TCM intervention that was delivered by a psychiatric nurse practitioner for 90 days posthospitalization, or a control group (n = 20) that received usual care. Outcomes were as follows: service utilization, health-related quality of life, and continuity of care.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed higher medical and psychiatric rehospitalization than the control group (p = .054). Emergency room use was lower for intervention group but not statistically significant. Continuity of care with primary care appointments were significantly higher for the intervention group (p = .023). The intervention group's general health improved but was not statistically significant compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

A transitional care intervention is recommended; however, the model needs to be modified from a single nurse to a multidisciplinary team with expertise from a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a social worker, and a peer support specialist. A team approach can best manage the complex physical/mental health conditions and complicated social needs of the population with serious mental illness.

Redesigning acute care for cognitively impaired older adults: Optimizing health care services

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of several factors known to influence hospitalization, hospital length of stay, and rehospitalization among older adults. Redesigning care delivery systems sensitive to the influence of CI may reduce acute care utilization while improving care quality. To develop a foundation of fundamental needs for health care redesign, we conducted focus groups with inpatient and outpatient providers to identify barriers, facilitators, and suggestions for improvements in care delivery for patients with CI.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Focus group sessions were conducted with providers to identify their approach to caring for cognitively impaired hospitalized adults; obstacles and facilitators to providing this care; and suggestions for improving the care process. Using a thematic analysis, two reviewers analyzed these transcripts to develop codes and themes.

RESULTS

Seven themes emerged from the focus group transcripts. These were: (1) reflections on serving the cognitively impaired population; (2) descriptions of perceived barriers to care; (3) strategies that improve or facilitate caring for hospitalized older adults; (4) the importance of fostering a hospital friendly to the needs of older adults; (5) the need for educating staff, patients, and caregivers; (6) the central role of good communication; and (7) steps needed to provide more effective care.

IMPLICATIONS

Providing effective acute care services to older adults with CI is an important challenge in health care reform. An understanding derived from the perspective of multiple professional disciplines is an important first step. Future research will build on this preliminary study in developing new acute care models for patients with CI.

The effects of shared situational awareness on functional and hospital outcomes of hospitalized older adults with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Functional decline of hospitalized older adults is common and triggers health care expenditures. Physical therapy can retard the functional decline that occurs during hospitalization. This study aims to examine whether shared situational awareness (SSA) intervention may enhance the benefits of physical therapy for hospitalized older persons with a common diagnosis, heart failure.

METHOD

An SSA intervention that involved daily multidisciplinary meetings was applied to the care of functionally declining older adults admitted to the medicine floor for heart failure. Covariates were matched between the intervention group (n=473) and control group (n=475). Both intervention and control groups received physical therapy for ≥0.5 hours per day. The following three outcomes were compared between groups: 1) disability, 2) transition to skilled nursing facility (SNF, post-acute care setting), and 3) 30-day readmission rate.

RESULTS

Disability was lower in the intervention group (28%) than in the control group (37%) (relative risk [RR] =0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.97; P=0.026), and transition to SNF was lower in the intervention group (22%) than in the control group (30%) (RR =0.77; 95% CI, 0.39-0.98; P=0.032). The 30-day readmission rate did not significantly differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

SSA intervention enhanced the benefits of physical therapy for functionally declining older adults. When applied to older adults with heart failure in the form of daily multidisciplinary meetings, SSA intervention improved functional outcomes and reduced transfer to SNFs after hospitalization.

Delirium recognition by family: European Portuguese validation study of the family confusion assessment method

OBJECTIVES

To present the validation study of the European Portuguese version of the Family Confusion Assessment Method (FAM-CAM) and to assess the level of psychological distress in families and caregivers of elderly hospitalized adults with delirium.

DESIGN

Validation study.

SETTING

Intermediate care unit of the Intensive Medicine Service of the São João Hospital Center, Porto, Portugal.

PARTICIPANTS

Families and caregivers of elderly hospitalized adults (≥48 hours). Inclusion criteria were sufficient knowledge about the individual to enable reporting on his or her mental and physical abilities and staying at the individual's bedside daily during hospitalization. Families and caregivers younger than 18 and those who did not speak Portuguese were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS

A trained researcher translated the FAM-CAM according to International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research guidelines. All individuals were assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) (reference standard) and the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). A trained researcher administered the FAM-CAM to families and caregivers. The level of family-perceived distress was evaluated on a numerical rating scale from 0 to 4.

RESULTS

The sample included 40 families and caregivers (58% adult children). According to the DSM-IV-TR, 20% of individuals had delirium. The FAM-CAM had moderate sensitivity (75%) and good specificity (91%) when assessed against the DSM-IV-TR and better sensitivity (86%) and specificity (91%) than the CAM. Fifty-seven percent of families and caregivers classified delirium as an extremely distressing experience.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results suggest that FAM-CAM is a sensitive screening tool for family detection of delirium in elderly hospitalized adults. The high level of psychological distress found corroborated previous studies. Future studies with larger samples will be needed for further validation and to allow the analysis of other psychometric properties.

Family Caregivers' Knowledge of Delirium and Preferred Modalities for Receipt of Information

Delirium is a life-threatening, frequently reversible condition that is often a sign of an underlying health problem. In-hospital mortality alone for older adults with delirium ranges from 25% to 33%. Early recognition of delirium is critical because prolonged duration poses a greater risk of poor functional outcomes for older adults. Family caregivers, who are familiar with the older adult's usual behaviors, are most likely to recognize delirium symptoms but might dismiss them as due to aging. It is important to learn what family caregivers know about delirium to ascertain their need for education. The aims of this study were to describe family caregivers' knowledge of delirium and preferred modalities for receipt of information about delirium. A cross-sectional design was used for this study and a survey distributed to family caregivers for older adults. Analysis of 134 usable surveys indicated that family caregivers need and want information about delirium. The preferred modalities for receipt of information included Internet, in-person classes, and newsletters.

Delirium and the Family Caregiver: The Need for Evidence-based Education Interventions

Delirium, an acute confusional state, is experienced by many older adults. Although there is substantial research on risk factors and etiology, we hypothesized that there is a dearth of information on educating the family caregivers of delirious older patients. A date-specific (2000-2013) literature review of articles, written in English, was conducted in several major databases using keyword searches. This systematic review focused on 2 objectives: (1) investigate published studies on the impact of delirium on the family regarding caring for a loved one; and (2) determine if there are interventions that have provided family caregivers with education and/or coping skills to recognize and/or manage delirium. A systematic elimination provided outcomes that met both objectives. Thirty articles addressed impact on family caregivers (objective 1); only 7 addressed caregiver education regarding the delirious state of a loved one (objective 2). Few studies consider the impact of delirium on family caregivers and even fewer studies focus on how to manage delirium in loved ones. With increased risks to older adult patients, high cost of care, and the preventable nature of delirium, family caregiver education may be an important tactic to improve outcomes for both patient and caregiver.

Comparison of evidence-based interventions on outcomes of hospitalized, cognitively impaired older adults

AIM

This article reports the effects of three evidence-based interventions of varying intensity, each designed to improve outcomes of hospitalized cognitively impaired older adults.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this comparative effectiveness study, 202 older adults with cognitive impairment (assessed within 24 h of index hospitalization) were enrolled at one of three hospitals within an academic health system. Each hospital was randomly assigned one of the following interventions: Augmented Standard Care (ASC; lower dose: n = 65), Resource Nurse Care (RNC; medium dose: n = 71) or the Transitional Care Model (TCM; higher dose: n = 66). Since randomization at the patient level was not feasible due to potential contamination, generalized boosted modeling that estimated multigroup propensity score weights was used to balance baseline patient characteristics between groups. Analyses compared the three groups on time with first rehospitalization or death, the number and days of all-cause rehospitalizations per patient and functional status through 6-month postindex hospitalization.

RESULTS

In total, 25% of the ASC group were rehospitalized or died by day 33 compared with day 58 for the RNC group versus day 83 for the TCM group. The largest differences between the three groups on time to rehospitalization or death were observed early in the Kaplan-Meier curve (at 30 days: ASC = 22% vs RNC = 19% vs TCM = 9%). The TCM group also demonstrated lower mean rehospitalization rates per patient compared with the RNC (p < 0.001) and ASC groups (p = 0.06) at 30 days. At 90-day postindex hospitalization, the TCM group continued to demonstrate lower mean rehospitalization rates per patient only when compared with the ASC group (p = 0.02). No significant group differences in functional status were observed.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that the TCM intervention, compared with interventions of lower intensity, has the potential to decrease costly resource use outcomes in the immediate postindex hospitalization period among cognitively impaired older adults.

Burden in caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly adults at time of hospitalization: a cross-sectional analysis

OBJECTIVES

To describe the factors associated with burden that caregivers of cognitively impaired older adults (dementia, delirium, or both) at the time of hospitalization experienced.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional data analyses.

SETTING

Three hospitals-one academic tertiary hospital and two associated community hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Caregivers (N = 495) of cognitively impaired older adults at the time of hospital admission.

MEASUREMENTS

Multivariable linear regression was performed to analyze the effect of the independent variables (caregiver: demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy; older adult: neuropsychiatric symptoms, delirium, functional deficits) on caregiver burden.

RESULTS

Higher burden was associated with younger caregiver age (P = .02), being a spouse (P = .03), depressive symptoms (P < .001), caregivers' lower perceived self-efficacy in managing care recipient symptoms (P = .002), and limited finances at the end of the month (P = .01). Caregiver burden was also strongly associated with the care recipient factors distressing neuropsychiatric symptoms (P = .001), delirium (P = .001), and greater functional deficits in basic activities of daily living (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that caregivers of older adults who were cognitively impaired at hospital admission experience burden. Understanding the factors that contribute to burden at the time of hospitalization for caregivers of persons with cognitive impairment can inform the development of interventions targeted throughout the hospitalization that have the potential to decrease burden.

Effect of weight on indwelling catheter use among long-term care facility residents

This study examined the effect of obesity on the use of indwelling urinary catheters among long-term care facility residents and found initial increases in usage by weight category, which declined during the next 12 months.

A model for improving the treatment and care of Alzheimer's disease patients through interdisciplinary research

The emerging global epidemic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) demands novel paradigms to address the two unmet needs of the field: (a) cost-effective health care delivery programs/services, and (b) clinical and basic research to accelerate therapy discovery/development. This report outlines a model demonstration project, the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania, which was designed to achieve four specific aims: (1) improve the integration and continuity of AD care; (2) identify biomarkers that detect the earliest presence of AD and related neurodegenerative cognitive disorders; (3) enhance both the design and conduct of clinical trials as well as review their results to more effectively test new AD therapies and translate valuable therapies into clinical practice; and (4) discover and develop novel disease-modifying small molecule treatments for AD. The "Ware-UPenn" program has been presented in this report as a useful prototype for partnerships between private philanthropy and academia in planning and developing programs to address a major national public health problem.

Screening for delirium using family caregivers: convergent validity of the Family Confusion Assessment Method and interviewer-rated Confusion Assessment Method

OBJECTIVES

To explore agreement between the Family Confusion Assessment Method (FAM-CAM) for delirium identification and interviewer-rated CAM delirium ratings.

DESIGN

Exploratory analysis of agreement.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-two family caregivers and 52 elderly adults with preexisting impairment according to standardized cognitive testing.

MEASUREMENTS

The interviewer-rating for delirium was determined by fulfillment of the CAM algorithm

RESULTS

The total sample included 52 paired CAM:FAM-CAM assessments completed across 52 dyads of elderly adults with preexisting cognitive impairment and family caregivers. The point prevalence of delirium was 13% (7/52). Characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups with and without delirium. The FAM-CAM questions that mapped directly to the original four-item CAM algorithm had the best overall agreement with the interviewer-rated CAM (kappa = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65-1.0), sensitivity of 88% (95% CI = 47-99%), and specificity of 98% (95% CI = 86-100%).

CONCLUSION

The FAM-CAM is a sensitive screening tool for detection of delirium in elderly adults with cognitive impairment using family caregivers, with relevance for research and clinical practice.

Identifying modifiable factors to improve quality for older adults in hospital: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Traditional ways of viewing hospitalisation do not always recognise how elements within the hospital environment contribute to disability. Four theoretical dimensions of older adult-hospital environment fit have been proposed in previous research on elder-friendly hospitals: social climate, physical design, care systems and processes, policies and procedures; however, modifiable factors for each dimension are not yet identified.

DESIGN

Exploratory iterative design guided by Arksey and O'Malley (2005, International Journal of Social Research Methodology 8, 19) scoping review methodology.

METHOD

We undertook a scoping review of primary research related to hospitalised community-dwelling older adults. Keys search terms and criteria were used to identify relevant articles with modifiable factors extracted from articles meeting study criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 66 studies were included and evaluated for modifiable factor mapping. We were able to map all 66 studies to the four dimensions. The majority of included studies described care systems and processes, with little relating to social climate, physical design and policies and procedures. Thirty-nine potentially modifiable factors were identified and mapped to the theoretical dimensions according to four overarching themes: models of care; assessment of potential geriatric issues; targeting care to a specific clinical issue and supporting transitions home themes.

CONCLUSION

The dimensions of older adult-hospital fit help us to organise key features of an elder-friendly hospital and identify potentially modifiable factors. Although it makes intuitive sense to cluster and organise according to the dimensions to help with understanding, this tells us little about the synergy of interactions and hierarchical relationships. Our results highlight the importance of competent gerontological nursing in care for hospitalised older adults and the need for further understanding of the older adult and family as a unit of care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Registered nurses have a leadership role to ensure safe quality care for older people in hospital. This leadership role can be framed in interventions that focus on fixing the fit between what older people need and what the hospital environment provides. Modifiable factors for improvement are within the scope and competency of the registered nurse.

Transitions in care among older adults receiving long-term services and supports

Recipients of long-term services and supports (LTSS) frequently transition between LTSS settings (e.g., assisted living facilities, nursing homes) and hospitals for acute changes in health. In this qualitative study, we analyzed findings from interviews with 57 recently hospitalized LTSS recipients and their family caregivers and described barriers and facilitators to high-quality care to support older adults through these care transitions. The themes that emerged strongly suggest that LTSS recipients and family caregivers do not receive needed information about the reasons for their transfers to hospitals, medical diagnoses, and planned treatments to address acute changes in health. Our findings indicate an urgent need for nurses and other health care team members to talk with LTSS recipients (and family caregivers) and ensure they are engaged and informed participants in care. We also found the need for research to test evidence-based transitional care for high-risk LTSS recipients and their family caregivers.

Differences in depression severity in family caregivers of hospitalized individuals with dementia and family caregivers of outpatients with dementia

OBJECTIVES

To determine if family caregivers of hospitalized individuals with dementia exhibit greater depression severity than caregivers of outpatients.

METHODS

Caregivers were recruited during care recipient treatment. Measures assessed depression, stress, burden, and grief.

RESULTS

Forty-one caregivers of a hospitalized patient and 44 caregivers of an outpatient (total N = 85) were recruited. The groups did not differ except caregivers of hospitalized patients were younger and less likely to reside with the care recipient. Regarding depression, 63.4% of caregivers of a hospitalized patient and 43.2% of caregivers of an outpatient scored within the clinical depressive symptoms range. Independent sample t-tests showed that caregivers of a hospitalized patient had greater severity of depression, burden, and grief. Caregiving for a hospitalized person remained a significant predictor of greater depression severity in regression models.

CONCLUSIONS

Family caregiving for a person hospitalized for psychiatric treatment of dementia is a risk factor for depression.

Care transitions: integrating transition theory and complexity science concepts

Care transitions, defined as hospital discharge or movement from one health care setting to another, are currently a major concern of health care providers and policy makers. Extensive empirical research has been conducted on care transitions, but the theoretical foundations are rarely made explicit. We propose that integrating concepts on complex adaptive systems from complexity science with classic theory on transitions in nursing provides a powerful new lens through which to study care transitions and improve transition outcomes. We summarize concepts from both theoretical approaches, propose an expanded model of transitions, and apply the model to the transition from hospital to home.

Advancing high value transitional care: the central role of nursing and its leadership

Addressing the health care needs of older adults coping with multiple conditions and their family caregivers in a person- and family-centered, safe, effective, efficient, equitable, and timely manner will be a major issue confronting America's health care system for the foreseeable future. This article describes the efforts of a multidisciplinary team to create a path from system fragmentation to integration for this vulnerable population through the design, testing, and translation of the Transitional Care Model (TCM). The TCM is a nurse-led, team-based care delivery system innovation that is designed to increase alignment of the care system with the preferences, needs, and values of high-risk individuals and their family caregivers and achieve higher-quality outcomes while reducing health care costs. A rigorous body of evidence reinforces a tremendous opportunity to address the urgent need for higher-value health care, through widespread implementation of the TCM for chronically ill older adults. Capitalizing on this opportunity will require the investment, commitment, and support of nursing and its leadership.

A qualitative analysis of an advanced practice nurse-directed transitional care model intervention

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe barriers and facilitators to implementing a transitional care intervention for cognitively impaired older adults and their caregivers lead by advanced practice nurses (APNs).

DESIGN AND METHODS

APNs implemented an evidence-based protocol to optimize transitions from hospital to home. An exploratory, qualitative directed content analysis examined 15 narrative case summaries written by APNs and fieldnotes from biweekly case conferences.

RESULTS

Three central themes emerged: patients and caregivers having the necessary information and knowledge, care coordination, and the caregiver experience. An additional category was also identified, APNs going above and beyond.

IMPLICATIONS

APNs implemented individualized approaches and provided care that exceeds the type of care typically staffed and reimbursed in the American health care system by applying a Transitional Care Model, advanced clinical judgment, and doing whatever was necessary to prevent negative outcomes. Reimbursement reform as well as more formalized support systems and resources are necessary for APNs to consistently provide such care to patients and their caregivers during this vulnerable time of transition.

Hospitalization Among Medicare-Reimbursed Skilled Home Health Recipients

This article presents a summary and critique of the published empirical evidence between the years 2002 and 2011 regarding rehospitalization among Medicare-reimbursed, skilled home health recipients. The knowledge gained will be applied to a discussion regarding ACH among geriatric home health recipients and areas for future research. The referenced literature in MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane databases was searched using combinations of the following search terms: home care and home health and Medicare combined with acute care hospitalization, rehospitalization, hospitalization, and adverse events and limited to studies conducted in the United States. Twenty-five research studies published in the last eight years investigated hospitalization among patients receiving Medicare-reimbursed, skilled home health. Empirical findings indicate telehomecare can reduce hospitalizations and emergency room use. The identification of risk factors for hospitalization relate to an elder's sociodemographic, clinical and functional status that can be identified upon admission and interventions taken in order to reduce hospitalizations. Disease management, frontloading nurse visits, the structure of home health services and OBQI are also among the interventions identified to reduce hospitalizations. However, the body of evidence is limited by a paucity of research and the over reliance on small sample sizes. Few published studies have explored methods that effectively reduce hospitalization among Medicare-reimbursed skilled home health recipients. Further research is needed to clarify the most effective ways to structure home health services to maximize benefits and reduce hospitalization among this chronically ill geriatric population.

Care transition experiences of spousal caregivers: from a geriatric rehabilitation unit to home

The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical framework about caregivers' experiences and the processes in which they engaged during their spouses' transition from a geriatric rehabilitation unit to home. We used a constructivist grounded theory methodology approach. Forty-five interviews were conducted across three points in time with 18 older adult spousal caregivers. A theoretical framework was developed within which reconciling in response to fluctuating needs emerged as the basic social process. Reconciling included three subprocesses (i.e., navigating, safekeeping, and repositioning), and highlighted how caregivers responded to the fluctuating needs of their spouse, to their own needs, and to those of the marital dyad. Reconciling was situated within a context shaped by a trajectory of prior care transitions and intertwined life events experienced by caregivers. Findings serve as a resource for scientists, rehabilitation clinicians, educators, and decision makers toward improving transitional care for spousal caregivers.