by A recent study conducted by the University of California, Irvine has found that simply adding more staff is not enough to bridge the quality-of-care and health outcome disparities among nursing homes with varying percentages of residents with dementia. The study, which is the first of its kind, highlights the importance of specialized training, an easy-to-navigate environment, and staff stability in providing high-quality care for individuals with dementia.
Published in the journal Health Services Research, the study reveals that while increased staffing generally improves outcomes for all patients, there are still discrepancies between high- and low-dementia facilities, regardless of the level of staffing. The impact on care varied depending on the percentage of residents with dementia, affecting daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating independently, as well as the number of emergency room visits and incidents of pressure sores.
Dana Mukamel, the first author of the study and a professor of medicine at UCI, explains, “We wanted to understand the association of staffing hours with care quality and compare the health outcomes in nursing homes with high- and low-dementia populations… We found that registered nurses’ and certified nurse assistants’ staffing hours per resident-day were likelay to improve outcomes for both high- and low-census dementia facilities but that simply increasing staff is not likely to be a solution.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 40% of nursing home residents in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, or cognitive impairment. The unique challenges faced by these individuals, including difficulties in communicating symptoms and needs, highlight the importance of staff receiving specialized training in recognizing nonverbal cues and understanding how individuals express themselves.
The study focused on comparing health outcomes of dementia patients receiving specialized care to dementia patients in general care. By investigating the dynamics of dementia, staffing, and health outcomes in nursing homes, the researchers aimed to provide insights into this complex relationship.
Using regression analyses on a national sample of nursing homes from 2017 to 2019, the researchers examined various datasets, including Medicare claims and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Payroll Based Journal. The analysis considered staff hours per resident-day and the percentage of residents with dementia, controlling for other resident and facility characteristics. Separate linear models were used to predict six long-term facility-level outcomes.
“Our findings highlight the fact that high-quality care involves not only increased staffing, but also specialized training in practices proven to be effective in managing the complexities of this condition, as well as providing a secure environment and maintaining staff consistency,” says Mukamel. She emphasizes the need for further research to identify specific areas for improvement in both low- and high-dementia facilities.
The research team also included Heather Ladd, a research associate in UCI’s Department of Medicine; Dr. Debra Saliba, a professor of medicine at UCLA; and R. Tamara Konetzka, a professor of public health sciences and medicine at the University of Chicago.
In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of a holistic approach to dementia care in nursing homes. Simply adding more staff is not enough; specialized training, an environment designed for dementia patients, and consistent staffing are necessary to provide high-quality care for this vulnerable population. Further research is needed to identify specific areas for improvement and opportunities to enhance care in both low- and high-dementia facilities.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.
