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Care Transitions to the Community from Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes: Experiences of Social Connection and Disconnection.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to further knowledge of older Veterans' experiences with transitioning to the community from Veterans Affairs nursing homes (Community Living Centers or CLCs) with emphasis on social functioning. DESIGN:A qualitative study design was used in addition to administration of standardized depression and mental status screens. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS:Veterans (n = 18) and caregivers (n = 14) were purposively sampled and recruited from 2 rural CLCs in Upstate New York. METHODS:Semistructured interviews were completed with Veterans in the CLC prior to discharge (to explore experiences during the CLC stay and expectations regarding discharge and returning home) and in the home 2-4 weeks postdischarge (to explore daily routines and perceptions of overall health, mental health, and social functioning). Caregivers participated in 1 interview, completed postdischarge. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the Brief Interview for Mental Status were administered postdischarge. RESULTS:Thematic analysis of verbatim transcriptions revealed 3 inter-related themes: (1) Veterans may experience improved social connectedness in CLCs by nature of the unique care environment (predominantly male, shared military experience); (2) Experiences of social engagement and connectedness varied after discharge and could be discordant with Veterans' expectations for recovery prior to discharge; and (3) Veterans may or may not describe themselves as "lonely" after discharge, when physically isolated. Veterans lacked moderate to severe cognitive impairment (Brief Interview for Mental Status: range = 14-15); however, they reported a wide range in depressive symptom severity postdischarge (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire: mean = 4.9, SD = 6.1, median/mode = 3, range = 0-23). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:This study identified a potential for increased social isolation and disengagement after discharge from Veterans Affairs nursing homes. Nursing homes should integrate social functioning assessment for their residents, while extending care planning and transitional care to address patient-centered social functioning goals.

SUBMITTER: Simons KV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7490594 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Care Transitions to the Community from Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes: Experiences of Social Connection and Disconnection.

Simons Kelsey V KV Bower Emily S ES Gillespie Suzanne M SM Mills Whitney L WL

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 20200915 3

<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to further knowledge of older Veterans' experiences with transitioning to the community from Veterans Affairs nursing homes (Community Living Centers or CLCs) with emphasis on social functioning.<h4>Design</h4>A qualitative study design was used in addition to administration of standardized depression and mental status screens.<h4>Setting and participants</h4>Veterans (n = 18) and caregivers (n = 14) were purposively sampled and recruited from 2 rural CLCs in U ...[more]

PMID: 32943341

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Project description:ObjectivesGeriatric palliative care approaches support deprescribing of antihypertensives in older nursing home (NH) residents with limited life expectancy and/or advanced dementia (LLE/AD) who are intensely treated for hypertension (HTN), but information on real-world deprescribing patterns in this population is limited. We examined the incidence and factors associated with antihypertensive deprescribing.DesignNational, retrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsOlder Veterans with LLE/AD and HTN admitted to VA NHs in fiscal years 2009-2015 with potential overtreatment of HTN at admission, defined as receiving at least 1 antihypertensive class of medications and mean daily systolic blood pressure (SBP) <120 mm Hg.MeasuresDeprescribing was defined as subsequent dose reduction or discontinuation of an antihypertensive for ≥7 days. Competing risk models assessed cumulative incidence and factors associated with deprescribing.ResultsWithin our sample (n = 10,574), cumulative incidence of deprescribing at 30 days was 41%. Veterans with the greatest level of overtreatment (ie, multiple antihypertensives and SBP <100 mm Hg) had an increased likelihood (hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.59, 1.93) of deprescribing vs those with the lowest level of overtreatment (ie, one antihypertensive and SBP ≥100 to <120 mm Hg). Several markers of poor prognosis (ie, recent weight loss, poor appetite, dehydration, dependence for activities of daily living, pain) and later admission year were associated with increased likelihood of deprescribing, whereas cardiovascular risk factors (ie, diabetes, congestive heart failure, obesity), shortness of breath, and admission source from another NH or home/assisted living setting (vs acute hospital) were associated with decreased likelihood.Conclusions and implicationsReal-world deprescribing patterns of antihypertensives among NH residents with HTN and LLE/AD appear to reflect variation in recommendations for HTN treatment intensity and individualization of patient care in a population with potential overtreatment. Factors facilitating deprescribing included treatment intensity and markers of poor prognosis. Comparative effectiveness and safety studies are needed to guide clinical decisions around deprescribing and HTN management.

Project description:ObjectivesThe homeless population is aging, and their use of nursing homes is not well understood. We compared comorbidities (substance use, mental health conditions, and physical illness) and nursing home measures (source of admission, length of stay, and mortality in the facility) of veterans who were homeless, at risk for being homeless, or stably housed in the year prior to admission.DesignCross-sectional analysis.Setting and participantsAll veterans admitted to a nursing home between January 2010 and December 2016 and their housing status in the year prior to their nursing home admission.MeasurementsAdjusted relative risks (ARRs) for the association between housing status, comorbidities, and nursing home measures.ResultsVeterans who were homeless in the year prior to their community nursing home admission were younger (n = 3355; 62.5 years [SD = 10.3 years]) at admission compared to stably housed veterans (n = 64 884; 75.3 years [SD = 11.9 years]). After adjustment for demographic characteristics, homeless veterans were more likely to have diagnoses for alcohol abuse (ARR = 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.05-2.31), drug abuse (ARR = 3.03; 95% CI = 2.74-3.33), mental health condition (ARR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.45-1.54), dementia (ARR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.04-1.25), liver disease (ARR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.23-1.41), lung disease (ARR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.04-1.13), and trimorbidity (co-occurring substance abuse, mental illness, and physical illness) (ARR = 2.57; 95% CI = 2.40-2.74) compared to stably housed veteran nursing home users. Homeless veterans were more likely to be admitted to a nursing home from a hospital (ARR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.08-1.17) and remain in the nursing home 90 days after admission (ARR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.04-1.16), but were less likely to die in the facility (ARR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.67-0.78) compared to stably housed veterans.ConclusionsHomeless veteran nursing home users have different characteristics than stably housed veteran nursing home users. These differences may challenge nursing home staff caring for homeless patients. Nursing homes should assess resident housing status to help provide linkages with existing social services. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1707-1712, 2019.

Dataset Information

Care Transitions to the Community from Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes: Experiences of Social Connection and Disconnection.

Publications

Care Transitions to the Community from Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes: Experiences of Social Connection and Disconnection.

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