Abstract
Group living (GL) care for demented elderly is an established model of care in Sweden. This study analyzes the outcome of care in terms of time of GL care, survival and care load for demented patients when extended home care no longer is considered sufficient. Twenty- eight patients, mean age 83 years, suffering from dementia of Alzheimer type or vascular dementia and previously institutionalized, were relocated from long- term care wards into GL units. These patients were compared to a matched sample of patients remaining in traditional institutional (TI) care. No difference in survival was observed between the two groups after three years, nor betweenlength of stay in GL for the different diagnostic groups. However, in patients in GL,symptoms of dementia and functional decline were less prominent than in TI. This was most marked after six months when some improvements in the GL group were registered. The more positive outcome in GL patients abates with time due to the natural course of the diseases. After three years, the two patient groups showed a similar pattern of global deterioration with a tendency toward less care load in the GL group. Offering GL care as an alternative to TI might raise the quality of life in the demented elderly for a period of 2–2.5 years. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 6: 372–380, 1994)
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kane R.L., Kane R.A.: Delivering long-term care: Lessons from the developed world. Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 2: 337–345, 1990.
Annerstedt L.: Development and consequences of group living in Sweden. A new mode of care for demented elderly. Soc. Sci. Med. 12: 1529–1538, 1993.
Johansson L.: Group dwellings for dementia patients — A new care alternative. Ageing Int. 6: 35–37, 1990.
Alfredsson B., Annerstedt L.: Psychological evaluation of collective living as a method of treatment for the elderly demented. Lund, Gerontological Center, I: 5, 1987.
Alfredson B., Annerstedt L.: Gruppboende för demenssjuka. Utvärdering av en vårdform. Socialmedicinsk Tidskrift, Stockholm, 9–10: 462–466, 1991.
Kihlgren M., Bråne G., Karlsson L., Kulemyr D., Leissner P., Norberg A.: Long-term interference in patients in different caring milieus, a collective living unit and a nursing home. A descriptive study. Dementia 3: 342–349, 1992.
Sjöström K., Åkesson U.B.: Var bor den åldersdementa bast och billigast? Rapport 14, Dept. Community Health Sciences, Lund University, 1986.
Wimo, A., Wallin J.O., Lundgren K., Rönnbäck E., Asplund K., Naffsson B., Krakan I.: Group living, an alternative for dementia patients. A cost analyses. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatr. 6: 21–29, 1991.
Lawton M.P.: Competence, environmental press and the adaptation of older people. In: Windley P.G., Byerts T.O., Ernst F.G. (Eds.), Theory development in environment and aging. Gerontological Society, Washington DC, 1975.
Oldrich E.: Coping and development in later years. A process-orientated approach to personality and development. In: Munnichs J., Munnichs P. (Eds.), Life-span and change in a gerontological perspective. Academic Press, London, 1985, pp 133–155.
Lawton M.P., Liebowitz B., Charon H.: Physical structure and the behaviour of senile patients following ward remodelling. Ageing Hum. Devel. 1: 231–239, 1979.
Brody E., Lawton M.P., Liebowitz B.: Senile dementia: Public policy and adequate institutional care. Am. J. Publ. Health 74: 1381–1383, 1984.
Benson D.M., Cameron D., Humbach E., Servino L., Gambert S.R.: Establishment and impact of a dementia unit within the nursing home. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 35: 319–323, 1987.
Arnetz B., Theorell T., Levi L., Kallner A., Eneroth P.: An experimental study of social isolation of elderly people: Psychoendocrine and metabolic effects. Psychosom. Med. 45: 395–406, 1983.
Karlsson I., Bråne G., Melin E., Nyth A.L., Rybo E.: Effects on environmental stimulation on biochemical and psychological variables in dementia. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 77: 207–213, 1988.
Nirenberg T.D.: Relocation of institutionalized elderly. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 5: 693–701, 1983.
Norman A.: Severe dementia: The provision of long stay care. Centre for Policy on Ageing, Washington D.C., 1987.
Benjamin L.C., Spector J.: Environment for the dementing. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatr. 5: 15–24, 1990.
Katz S., Ford A.B., Moskowitz R.W., Jackson B.A., Jaffe M.W.: Studies of illness in the aged. The index of ADL: A standardized measure of biological and psychosocial function. J. Am. Med. Wom. Assoc. 185: 914–919, 1963.
Berger E.Y.: A system for rating the severity of senility. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 28: 234–236, 1980.
American Psychiatric Association.: Diagnostical and statistical manual of mental disorders, ed. 3 r vised. Washington D.C., 1987.
McKhann G., Drachman D., Folstein M., Katzman R., Price D., Stadlan E.M.: Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: Report from the NINCDS-ADRDA work group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Service Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology 34: 939–943, 1984.
Gottfries C.G., Bråne G., Gullberg D., Steen G.: A new rating scale for dementia syndromes. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 1: 311–330, 1982.
Hallberg I.R., Norberg A., Eriksson S.: Functional impairment and behavioural disturbances in vocally disruptive patients in psychogeriatric wards compared with controls. Int. J. Ger. Psychiatr. 5: 53–61, 1990.
Jensen E., Dehlin O., Gustafson L.: A comparison between three psychogeriatric rating scales. J. Int. Ger. Psychiatr. 8: 215–229, 1993.
Hulter-Åsberg K.: Assessment of ADL in home-care for the elderly. Scand. J. Soc. Med. 14: 105–111, 1986.
Nordic Council on Medicines: Nordic Statistics on Medicines. Guidelines for ATC classification NLN publication Nr 16, 1983.
Lawton P.: Aging and Environment Brooks/Cole series in Social Gerontology, Montery, 1980.
Ray W.A., Taylor J.A., Meador K.G., Lichtenstein N.J., Griffin M.J., Fought R., Adams N.L., Blazer D.G.: Reducing antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes. Arch. Intern. Med. 153: 713–721, 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Annerstedt, L. An attempt to determine the impact of group living care in comparison to traditional long-term care on demented elderly patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 6, 372–380 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324268
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324268