Care dependency and nursing care problems in nursing home residents with and without dementia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

These results highlight areas in which dementia care needs further improvements. The authors suggest maximizing residents' independence to stabilize care dependency and improve incontinence care. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are recommended to deepen insight into the development of care dependency and nursing care problems in dementia residents.

Managing Urinary Incontinence in Patients with Dementia: Pharmacological Treatment Options and Considerations

“…In a study in Austrian nursing homes, UI was present in 84.2 % of residents with dementia versus 53.2 % of those without and was highly prevalent even in those with early dementia, affecting 64 % of the 277 residents studied [32]. Once admitted to a nursing home, the presence of a dementia diagnosis is associated with a hastening of loss of continence compared with those residents without (Fig.…”

Comparison of care dependency and related nursing care problems between Austrian nursing home residents with and without dementia

“…over 60 is 13% [15] and from a few studies, we know that the prevalence of care dependency in nursing home residents with dementia ranges from 28-83% [24]. However, we have very limited information regarding the comparison of the degree of care dependency between nursing home residents with and without dementia [24].…”

“…However, we have very limited information regarding the comparison of the degree of care dependency between nursing home residents with and without dementia [24]. The same applies for studies comparing the prevalence of malnutrition, incontinence, pressure ulcers, falls and restraints between residents with and without dementia [24], because most studies tend to take all nursing home residents into account [14,25,26]. This is why the results from the studies conducted only insinuate that care dependency and nursing care problems may be higher in residents with dementia [24].…”

“…The same applies for studies comparing the prevalence of malnutrition, incontinence, pressure ulcers, falls and restraints between residents with and without dementia [24], because most studies tend to take all nursing home residents into account [14,25,26]. This is why the results from the studies conducted only insinuate that care dependency and nursing care problems may be higher in residents with dementia [24]. In general, we know from the literature that dementia leads to a gradual cognitive, functional and behavioural decline [12,15] and that it is the strongest independent contributor to care dependency [15].…”

“…Therefore, it could follow that residents with dementia are more care dependent than those without and that they may have a higher prevalence of nursing care problems; but it is not enough to assume this, it must be confirmed and visualised with data. It is important to compare care dependency and nursing care problems between residents with and without dementia in order to better understand residents with dementia [24]. Their improved care also requires demonstrating the extent of these differences and consequently exploring which nursing care problems and human needs (e.g.…”