Psychiatric Services: Experience, Perceptions, and Needs of Nursing Facility Multidisciplinary Leaders

Quality of Nursing Homes Among ADRD Residents Newly Admitted From the Community: Does Race Matter?

OBJECTIVE

To examine racial differences in admissions to high-quality nursing homes (NHs) among residents with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), and whether such racial differences can be influenced by dementia-related state Medicaid add-on policies.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study included 786,096 Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD newly admitted from the community to NHs between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017.

METHODS

2010-2017 Minimum Data Set 3.0, Medicare Beneficiary Summary File, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review, and Nursing Home Compare data were linked. For each individual, we constructed a "choice" set of NHs based on the distance between the NH and an individual residential zip code. McFadden's choice models were estimated to examine the relationship between admission into a high-quality (4- or 5-star) NH and individual characteristics, specifically race, and state Medicaid dementia-related add-on policies.

RESULTS

Among the identified residents, 89% were White, and 11% were Black. Overall, 50% of White and 35% of Black individuals were admitted to high-quality NHs. Black individuals were more likely to be Medicare-Medicaid dually eligible. Results from McFadden's model suggested that Black individuals were less likely to be admitted to a high-quality NH than White individuals (OR = 0.615, P < .01), and such differences were partially explained by some individual characteristics. Furthermore, we found that the racial difference was reduced in states with dementia-related add-on policies, compared with states without these policies (OR = 1.16, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Black individuals with ADRD were less likely to be admitted to high-quality NHs than White individuals. Such difference was partially related to individuals' health conditions, social-economic status, and state Medicaid add-on policies. Policies to reduce barriers to high-quality NHs among Black individuals are necessary to mitigate health inequity in this vulnerable population.

Admission and Care of Individuals with Mental Illness in Massachusetts Nursing Homes: An Exploratory Study

Rising rates of mental illness in nursing homes (NHs) led Congress to pass the 1987 Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) mandate, aimed at limiting inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental illness (MI) and ensuring appropriate service of NH residents with MI. The law's flexibility results in significant cross-state variations. This study explores Massachusetts' experiences with PASRR implementation, using semi-structured interviews (N=8) with key informants representing major stakeholders. Thematic Content Analysis was used for analysis.Four themes emerged as follows: 1) PASRR screens MI, insufficient in ensuring services, 2) NHs face challenges implementing PASRR, 3) inadequate community-based services increase pressure on NHs, and 4) reactions to PASRR revisions were mixed. Participants agreed that PASRR's first aim was met-avoiding inappropriate institutionalization-but not the second-ensuring appropriate services, and highlighted the limited community alternatives for serving people with MI. More research is needed to understand state variations in PASRR implementation.

The Diagnosis of Schizophrenia Among Nursing Home Residents With ADRD: Does Race Matter?

OBJECTIVE

To examine racial differences in the frequency of schizophrenia diagnosis codes used among nursing home (NH) residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), pre and post the implementation of public reporting of antipsychotic use in NHs.

METHODS

The 2011-2017 Minimum Data Set and Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File were linked. We identified long-stay NH residents (i.e., those who had quarterly or annual assessments) with ADRD aged 55 years and older (N = 7,734,348). Outcome variable was defined as the diagnosis of schizophrenia documented in the MDS assessments. Main variables of interest included individual race (black versus white), the percent of blacks in a NH and time trend. Multivariate regressions were estimated.

RESULTS

The frequency of schizophrenia diagnosis codes among NH residents with ADRD steadily increased over the study period, and blacks experienced a greater increase than their white counterparts. For example, the overall likelihood of having schizophrenia diagnosis increased 1.9 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.019, 0.020, p < 0.01) from 2011 to 2017 among whites, while blacks had an addition 1.3 percentage points increase (95% CI: 0.011, 0.015, p < 0.01). The increase in the likelihood of having schizophrenia diagnosis code was higher in NHs with higher percent of blacks: the increase from 2011 to 2017 was 2.6 percentage point (95% CI: 0.023, 0.029, p < 0.01) higher in NHs with the highest percent of blacks, compared to NHs with lowest percent of blacks. Racial differences in the growth of schizophrenia diagnosis also existed within a NH after accounting for NH factors.

CONCLUSION

Following the implementation of public reporting of antipsychotic use in NH, black residents experienced a greater increase in the likelihood of having schizophrenia diagnosis than white NH residents. NHs with a higher proportion of blacks had a greater increase in schizophrenia diagnosis, and blacks experienced an increased likelihood of schizophrenia diagnosis than whites within a NH. Further research is needed to determine a causal relationship between the federal policy mandating public reporting and disparities in schizophrenia diagnostic coding.

Policy to Reduce Antipsychotic Use and Hospitalization of Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

OBJECTIVES

Following the 2012 launch of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes (the National Partnership), the use of antipsychotics has declined. However, little is known about the impact of this effort on quality of care and outcomes for nursing home (NH) residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). The objective of this study is to examine changes in hospitalizations for NH long-stay residents with ADRD after the launch of the National Partnership.

DESIGN

Observational cross-sectional study.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

NH residents who were newly admitted into NHs and became long-stay residents between January 2011 and March 2015 (n = 565,885).

METHODS

We estimated linear probability models to explore the relationship between the National Partnership and the likelihood of NH-originated hospitalizations for NH long-stay residents with ADRD, accounting for facility fixed effect, individual covariates, and concurrent changes in hospitalizations among residents without ADRD. We further stratified the analysis by NHs according to their prevalence of antipsychotic use at baseline (ie, prior to the National Partnership).

RESULTS

We detected a 0.7-percentage point relative increase (P value <.01) in risk-adjusted probabilities of hospitalizations among residents with ADRD compared with non-ADRD residents in the post-Partnership period. In the stratified analysis, we detected a 1.2-percentage point increase (P = .037) in the probability of hospitalizations among ADRD residents in NHs with high antipsychotic use at baseline but no significant change among those in NHs with low antipsychotic use.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Although the National Partnership may have reduced exposure to antipsychotics, our findings suggest this was related to an increase in hospitalization risk for residents with ADRD. Further research is needed to elucidate the reasons behind the observed relationship and to examine the impact of the National Partnership on other health outcomes.

Association between High Proportions of Seriously Mentally Ill Nursing Home Residents and the Quality of Resident Care

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents with and without a serious mental illness (SMI) and the proportion of nursing home residents with SMI.

DESIGN

Instrumental variable study. Relative distance to the nearest nursing home with a high proportion of SMI residents was used to account for potential selection of patients between high- and low-SMI facilities. Data were obtained from the 2006-2010 Minimum Data Set assessments linked with Medicare claims and nursing home information from the Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting database.

SETTING

Nursing homes with high (defined as at least 10% of a facility's population having an SMI diagnosis) and low proportions of SMI residents.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 58 571 Medicare nursing residents with an SMI diagnosis (ie, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) and 558 699 individuals without an SMI diagnosis who were admitted to the same nursing homes.

MEASUREMENTS

Outcomes were nursing home quality measures: (1) use of physical restraints, (2) any hospitalization in the last 3 months, (3) use of an indwelling catheter, (4) use of a feeding tube, and (5) presence of pressure ulcer(s).

RESULTS

For individuals with SMI, admission to a high-SMI facility was associated with a 3.7 percentage point (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-6.0) increase in the probability of feeding tube use relative to individuals admitted to a low-SMI facility. Among individuals without SMI, admission to a high-SMI facility was associated with a 1.7 percentage point increase in the probability of catheter use (95 CI = .03-3.47), a 3.8 percentage point increase in the probability of being hospitalized (95% CI = 2.16-5.44), and a 2.1 percentage point increase in the probability of having a feeding tube (95% CI = .43-3.74).

CONCLUSION

Admission to nursing homes with high concentrations of residents with SMI is associated with worse outcomes for both residents with and without SMI. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2346-2352, 2019.

Providing Behavioral Health Services in Nursing Homes Is Difficult: Findings From a National Survey

OBJECTIVES

Behavioral health (BH) disorders affect 65% to 90% of nursing home (NH) residents. Access to BH services in NHs has been generally considered inadequate, but the empirical evidence is sparse. We examined the availability of BH services and identified facility-level factors associated with the difficulty of providing BH services in NHs.

DESIGN

A national random sample of 3996 NHs was identified. Two structured surveys with questions about BH service availability, quality, satisfaction, staffing, staff education, turnover, and service barriers were mailed to administrators and directors of nursing in each NH between July and December 2017.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Completed surveys were obtained from 1079 NHs (27% response rate). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were employed.

MEASUREMENTS

Four outcome measures were based on five-point Likert scales: (1) adequacy of BH staff education; (2) ability to meet resident BH service needs; (3) adequacy of coordination/collaboration between NH/community providers; and (4) availability of necessary facility infrastructure.

RESULTS

BH service needs were unmet in one third of NHs; almost half lacked appropriate staff BH education. Over 30% reported having inadequate coordination of care between NH and community providers, and 26.2% had inadequate infrastructure for residents' referrals/transport. Staff BH education was less problematic in NHs with Alzheimer disease units (odds ratio [OR] = 0.6; P < .05), lower registered nurse (RN) turnover (OR = 0.7; P < .05), and more psychiatrically trained RNs (OR = 0.5; P < .001) and social workers (OR = 0.6; P < .05). Lower RN turnover (OR = 0.7; P < .05) and more psychiatrically trained RNs (OR = 0.6; P < .05) were associated with fewer NHs reporting being unable to meet BH service needs. Having more psychiatrically trained RNs (OR = 0.6; P < .05) was associated with fewer NHs reporting inadequate coordination with community providers.

CONCLUSION

Inadequate BH education and psychiatric training among NH staff were associated with subpar provision of BH services in this care setting. New initiatives that increase access to BH providers and services and improve staff education are urgently needed in NHs. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1713-1717, 2019.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Among U.S. Nursing Home Residents

This study aimed to examine racial and ethnic differences in significant depressive symptoms among long-term nursing home residents. We analyzed the 2014 national Minimum Data Set linked to a nursing home file and estimated multivariable logistic regressions to determine the associations of race and ethnicities with significant depressive symptoms (score ≥ 10 on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] scale) and whether associations were explained by resident and nursing home covariates. Stratified analyses further determined independent associations in subgroups of residents. We found that the prevalence rate of PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10 was 8.8% among non-Hispanic White residents (n = 653,031) and 7.4%, 6.9%, and 6.6% among Black (n = 97,629), Hispanic (n = 39,752), and Asian (n = 16,636) residents, respectively. The reduced likelihoods of significant depressive symptoms for minority residents compared to non-Hispanic Whites persisted after sequential adjustments for resident and nursing home covariates, as well as in stratified analyses. The persistently lower rate of significant depressive symptoms among racial and ethnic minority residents suggests that training of nursing home caregivers for culturally sensitive depression screening is needed for improved symptom recognition among minority residents.

Suicide in later life: failed treatment or rational choice?

Suicide is the deliberate act of causing death by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die. Assisted dying, also known as assisted suicide, involves others to help hasten death. Physician-assisted dying specifically refers to the participation of a physician in facilitating one's death by providing a lethal means. Any decision to actively end a life has profound emotional and psychological effects on survivors. The article discusses the effects that older adults' deaths through suicide, assisted dying, and physician-assisted dying have on survivors and the implications for clinical practice.