Biomedical subjects

A L Gruber-Baldini

Publications and source records attributed to A L Gruber-Baldini.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Relationship between aggressive behaviors and depression among nursing home residents with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Verbal and physical aggression are common behavior problems among nursing home residents with dementia. Depression among nursing home residents is also a common but underdiagnosed disorder. METHOD: Data collected on 1101 residents with dementia, newly admitted to a sample of 59 nursing homes across Maryland, were analyzed to determine if there was a relationship between depression and physical and verbal aggression. RESULTS: Residents with dementia who manifested physical or verbal aggression had a higher prevalence of depression than those without such behaviors (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nursing home residents with aggressive behaviors should be screened for depression and treated.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Medical care for nursing home residents: differences by dementia status. Epidemiology of Dementia in Nursing Homes Research Group.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the use of medical services by nursing home residents. DESIGN: Descriptive, longitudinal study comparing medical service use of residents by dementia status and describing the use of medical services following detection of fever or infection. SETTING: Fifty-nine randomly selected nursing homes in Maryland from 1992 to 1995. PARTICIPANTS: 2,153 residents admitted to one of 59 randomly selected nursing homes. MEASUREMENT: A panel of psychiatrists and neurologists ascertained dementia based on review of medical records, interview data with significant others and nursing staff, and results of a cognitive exam. Medical service use was abstracted from medical records. BACKGROUND: Understanding the use of medical services by nursing home residents as distinct from services provided by the nursing home is important, particularly as new medical care models are tested. This study compares the medical service use of residents by dementia status and describes the use of medical services following detection of fever or infection. RESULTS: Residents with dementia compared with those without dementia had lower annual rates of physician visits (10.2 vs 12.7, P < .001) and hospitalizations (0.9 vs 1.2, P < .001), virtually the same rate of emergency department visits, and similar lengths of stay in the hospital. Subsequent to infection, a lower proportion of residents with dementia had either a physician visit, an emergency department visit, or a hospital admission compared with residents without dementia (27.2% vs 32.2%, P < .001). In 87% of infections, an antibiotic was used, implying meaningful contact with a physician. Residents with dementia compared with those without dementia had fewer physician visits subsequent to fevers (20.6% vs 29.9%, P < .001) and infections (21.8% vs 27.5%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The association of less medical service use by individuals with dementia compared with those without dementia may reflect differences in health status or implicit end-of-life decision-making and a proclivity toward less-aggressive treatment for these individuals.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Resident contact with family and friends following nursing home admission.

PURPOSE: This study explored factors that are related to the level of contact (number of visits and calls) between newly admitted nursing home residents and their family and friends. In addition to reexamining factors studied previously, several new factors were explored: contact level prior to nursing home placement, dementia status, and resident race. DESIGN AND METHODS: Interviews were conducted with the significant others of 1,441 residents from a representative sample of nursing homes in Maryland. RESULTS: Contact decreased by approximately half following admission, compared to reported preadmission contact. Rates of contact are positively related to nonuse of Medicaid, kinship closeness, support network proximity, nondemented status, and White race. After controlling for preadmission contact, postadmission contact is positively associated with kinship closeness, support network proximity, nondemented status, and White race. IMPLICATIONS: The study identifies factors that are useful to consider when designing interventions to increase family involvement with nursing home residents.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Delirium on hospital admission in aged hip fracture patients: prediction of mortality and 2-year functional outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture patients are at increased risk of confusion or delirium due to the trauma associated with the injury and the rapid progression to hospitalization and surgery, in addition to the pain and loss of function experienced. Hip fracture patients who develop delirium may require longer hospital stays, are more often discharged to long-term care, and have a generally poor prognosis for returning home or regaining function in activities of daily living (ADL). METHODS: The present study examines the impact of delirium present on hospital admission in a sample of 682 non-demented, aged hip fracture patients residing in the community at the time of their fracture. In-hospital assessments designed to assess both prefracture and postfracture functioning, as well as follow-up interviews at 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postfracture, were obtained from participants. RESULTS: Analyses indicate that baseline or admission delirium is an important prognostic predictor of poor long-term outcomes in persons without known cognitive impairment, after controlling for age, gender, race, comorbidity, and functional status. Delirium at admission (i.e., prior to surgery) was associated with poorer functioning in physical, cognitive, and affective domains at 6 months postfracture and slower rates of recovery. Impairment and delays in recovery may be further exacerbated by increased depressive symptoms in confused patients over time. Delirium on hospital admission was not a significant predictor of mortality after adjustment for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings further emphasize the significance of immediate detection and treatment of delirium in hip fracture patients to ameliorate the short and long-term effects of acute confusion on functional outcomes.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

The prevalence of dementia in a statewide sample of new nursing home admissions aged 65 and older: diagnosis by expert panel. Epidemiology of Dementia in Nursing Homes Research Group.

This study estimated the prevalence of dementia in 2,285 new admissions age 65+ to a statewide sample of 59 nursing homes in Maryland, 1992-1995. Dementia was ascertained according to DSM-III-R criteria by an expert panel of geriatric psychiatrists, neurologists, and a geriatrician using detailed information collected by trained lay evaluators from residents, family, staff, and medical records. Admissions to Maryland nursing homes are similar to admissions to nursing homes elsewhere in the United States. The prevalence of dementia was 48.2% (CI: 43.6-52.8) with an upper bound estimated at 54.5% (CI: 49.9-59.1). Prevalence is highest in facilities with <50 beds versus 200+ beds (65.5% vs 39.6%) and those in urban versus rural areas (50.0% vs 39.1%). Those who are non-White, married, and with fewer years of education are more likely to be demented. Prevalence is highest among those with 4+ physical impairments versus 0-1 (60.3% vs 27.7%) and lowest in those with 4+ comorbidities versus 0-1 (44.8% vs 52.0%). There was considerable overlap in the comorbid status of demented and nondemented admissions, and both groups contained members with only a few functional limitations. Results suggest that the level of medical supervision provided in nursing homes may not be required for some residents with dementia.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

The validity of the minimum data set in measuring the cognitive impairment of persons admitted to nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the construct validity of two cognitive scales from the federally mandated Minimum Data Set (MDS) of the nursing home Resident Assessment Instrument. DESIGN: A cross-sectional comparisons of the MDS measures, with scales provided by the resident, a proxy person, and nursing staff. SETTING: Subjects residing in 59 nursing homes (NHs) in Maryland from 1992 to 1995. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 1939 new admissions to NHs, aged 65 and older, with complete MDS information at admission. MEASUREMENTS: Two MDS scales, the Cognitive Performance Scale (CPS) and the MDS Cognition Scale (MDS-COGS), were compared with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the staff rating on the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale (PGDRS) Orientation scale, as well as measures of functioning and functional decline. RESULTS: The CPS and the MDS-COGS were highly correlated (r = 0.92). Both correlated moderately well with the MMSE (r = -0.65 and -0.68) and with staff's rating on the PGDRS Orientation scale (r = 0.63 and r = 0.66). Correlations with the MMSE (r < 0.70) are lower than previously reported (r > or = 0.80). The proportion of cognitively impaired residents in this NH admission cohort was higher using the MDS-COGS than the CPS (65% vs 57%), but both MDS scales produced lower proportions than the MMSE (70%) and higher proportions than the PGDRS (47%). The internal consistency of the CPS was better without the comatose item (alpha = 0.80 vs 0.70). The MDS-COGS had higher internal consistency (alpha = 0.85) and was simpler to compute. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to examine the validity of the MDS in a large sample of residents and NHs in situations where the MDS was not completed by research-trained staff. Compared with other instruments, the MDS-COGS and the CPS had moderate and similar validity for assessing cognitive impairment. Differences in the scales could provide different estimates of impairment among persons admitted to nursing homes.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

Racial differences in the prevalence of dementia among patients admitted to nursing homes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dementia among black and white residents on admission to nursing homes and to determine whether demographic and health characteristics known to be associated with dementia were correlated with dementia in this population. METHODS: Data from medical records and structured interviews with family members, nursing staff, and nursing home residents were gathered for 2,285 persons newly admitted to nursing homes in Maryland from 1992 to 1995. A stratified sample of 59 nursing homes was used. An expert panel of five physicians classified each resident as demented, nondemented, or indeterminate. Associations between dementia status, race, and selected characteristics were examined. RESULTS: Black residents (77 percent) were significantly more likely than white residents (57 percent) to be classified as demented. Older age was associated with dementia in both races. Less education, male gender, and a history of a cerebrovascular accident were associated with an increased prevalence of dementia among white residents only. After demographic and health characteristics associated with dementia were controlled for, black race remained independently associated with a diagnosis of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of dementia on admission to nursing homes was higher among black residents than among white residents, a finding that has implications for the delivery of care. The higher rate may be due to psychosocial factors operating differently in blacks and whites that influence the timing of admission to a nursing home.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1997

Proxy reporting in five areas of functional status. Comparison with self-reports and observations of performance.

Proxy ratings of functional status were compared with subject self-reports in five domains relevant to the study of older persons and with observations of subject performance in two areas (physical and instrumental functioning). Data were derived from 233 proxy-subject pairs evaluated in a prospective study of hip fracture patients aged 65 years or more in Baltimore, Maryland (1990-1991). Agreement between proxy and subject reports was highest for a summary measure of instrumental functioning and lowest for a measure of depression. Proxies tended to report more disability than did subjects, although bias varied by function. Patterns of agreement for proxy reports versus observations of performance compared with patterns for proxy reports versus subject reports were lower for measures of instrumental functioning, and bias was generally more extreme for instrumental and physical functioning measures. The authors conclude that agreement and bias differ by functional domain, by the way summary measures are created and scored, and by the criterion against which proxy reports are compared.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1996

Age differences and age changes in activities: Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

This study examines cross-sectional age differences, longitudinal age changes, and secular changes in obligatory, committed, and discretionary activities, using activity questionnaire completed by men and women participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging between 1958 and 1992. (1) Time spent, on obligatory activities and passive leisure is greatest, and on committed activities and active leisure least, for older adults. (2) Longitudinal patterns usually mirror cross-sectional ones. There are pronounced exceptions for women whose paid work time has been increasing and housework decreasing, while cross-sectional patterns show the reverse. (3) Over recent decades, time in committed activities shifted in opposite ways for men and women. Men decreased paid work and increased housework, repairs and yardwork, shopping, and child-care, while women increased paid work and decreased housework. In sum, the age structure of activities has persisted in the midst of new social opportunities; gender roles have proven more malleable than age roles.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1996

Longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning in adult day care participants.

This study examines longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning over the course of 2 years in participants of adult day cae programs. Cognitive measures included the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Longitudinal data were available for five measurement points over 2 years for 82 participants (22 males and 60 females). Overall, results from this study suggest that there were significant cognitive declines on BCRS and MMSE, even after only 1 or 2 years in the study. The rates of impairment over the 2 years for BCRS and MMSE were highly correlated. Within each measure, the individual rates of decline were very heterogenous and were influenced by the presence, type, and prognosis of dementia. Participants with multi-infarct dementia had greater cognitive decline than did those with other types of dementias. Initial cognitive functioning and physician's prognosis of dementia trajectory were also significant predictors of change over time. Results suggest a floor effect in the BCRS.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1995

Similarity in married couples: a longitudinal study of mental abilities and rigidity-flexibility.

Longitudinal changes in couple similarity on the Primary Mental Abilities and the Test of Behavioral Rigidity were studied over 7-year intervals from 1956 to 1984 in 169 couples from the Seattle Longitudinal Study. Positive, initial intraclass spousal correlations were significant for verbal meaning, inductive reasoning, word fluency, educational aptitude, intellectual aptitude, attitudinal flexibility, psychomotor speed, and social responsibility, as well as age and education. After age and education had been controlled, significant increases in spousal similarity were found for verbal meaning and intellectual ability over 14 years and for attitudinal flexibility over 21 years. The higher functioning spouses' word fluency influenced the lower functioning spouses' verbal meaning and word fluency over time. Couples who became more similar over time involved husbands in higher occupations and wives with fewer changes in profession.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Short-term dynamics of disability and well-being.

For persons with serious chronic morbidity, disability is a very dynamic process as morbidity advances or retreats, and as interventions succeed or fail. This article studies trajectories of function (cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and global well-being) over a year for 165 persons whose chronic morbidity prompted a hospital stay. Changes in functioning from hospital admission to one year post-discharge are analyzed; functional statuses were measured nine times in that period. Both intra-individual and inter-individual changes are studied by means of a combination of visual and statistical techniques. (1) Individuals: After the hospital stay, functions typically improve in the first month, stabilize for several months, then begin to fluctuate and worsen. Individual trajectories are very changeful over a year, yet there is short-run continuity (from one measurement point to the next). (2) Groups: Persons with fracture of hip show the most striking and protracted improvements over the year, compared to persons with other conditions. Chances of functional recovery are highest for persons with just one chronic condition; those chances decline as comorbidity increases. Having many social contacts is associated with initial high function that is maintained over the year; having few contacts is associated with stable low function. The analyses point to the scientific value of short remeasurement intervals for persons with severe or multiple morbidity.

Age Factors↗