Age and site differences in planned and performed actions in response to identified risks in older adults

• The Swedish health care system focuses on allowing older adults to “age in place”; however, that approach assumes that home health services are adequate to support health and prevent unnecessary decline. Data from the Senior Alert national quality register in Sweden were examined to compare the quality of care across care locations. First registration in Senior Alert was available for 2914 adults aged 57–109 (median age = 81): 3.6% dementia unit, 7.8% home health care, 4.4% rehabilitation unit, 62.8% hospital, 21.4% care home. There were significant differences across units in the number of identified risks in 4 categories: falls, malnutrition, oral health, and pressure ulcer. Individuals in rehabilitation units averaged 2.4 risks, individuals in dementia and care homes averaged 2.0 risks, and individuals in home health care and hospitals averaged 1.4 risks. For individuals with identified risks, the differences between planned and performed actions for each risk independently were greatest for those in home health care. Moreover, the correlation between total planned and performed actions in home health care was .79 for adults aged 65–80 years and .39 for adults aged 81 and over. The correlation did not differ across age for the other care units. Results suggest that individuals most in need of actions to address health risks (older adults in home health care) are least likely to have the actions performed. Training and support of workers responsible for home health care need to be improved if the “age in place” policy is to continue.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Dental Hygiene

Oral hälsa

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)