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Physical Health and Cognitive Ability Among Married Long-Term-Care Patients and Among Their Spouses—A Comparison Between Home Care and Nursing Home Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2005

Ann-Christine Löfgren ,
Gösta Bucht ,
Sture Eriksson  and
Tage Lundström
Ann-Christine Löfgren
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Gösta Bucht
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Sture Eriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Tage Lundström
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish whether physical health and cognitive function in married long-term patients or in their spouses determines why some patients are cared for in home care while others reside in nursing homes. Out of 38 married couples with a sick spouse cared for in a nursing home, 23 couples were studied; out of 34 couples with a sick spouse cared for in home care, 22 patients and 25 spouses were studied. The results showed no significant differences in physical health score either between the two groups of patients, or between the two groups of spouses. Both home-care patients and nursing home patients had low cognitive function scores, but nursing home patients had significantly lower scores. A multivariate analysis showed that physical health and cognitive function explained only 20% of patients' residence. Between the two groups of spouses there was no difference in cognitive function score. The conclusion is that physical health status and cognitive function explain only to a small extent why married long-term care patients are cared for in nursing homes or in home care.

Type
Research and Reviews
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , September 1993 , pp. 157 - 168
Copyright
© 1993 Springer Publishing Company

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