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A longitudinal evaluation of residents’ health outcomes in nursing homes and residential care homes in Taiwan

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Abstract

Purpose

The role of nursing homes (NHs) and residential care homes (RHs) frequently overlaps in Taiwan, raising concerns about their level of care. This study aimed to investigate residents’ health outcomes in NHs and RHs 1 year after admission.

Methods

This longitudinal study included four stages of face-to-face interviews with recruited residents. Five main outcome measures, residents’ functional status, broad health status (SF-36), resident’s/family’s satisfaction toward institutions (RSQ), mortality, and relocation rates, were assessed by generalized estimating equations.

Results

The mean scores of ADL and RSQ of newly admitted NH residents were significantly lower, and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores higher than those of RH residents (P < 0.05). However, MMSE and RSQ showed no statistical difference between these two institutions over time. Moreover, scores for Physical Role, Emotional Role, and Mental Component Scales of SF-36 were significantly improved in NH residents than those of RH residents over time. The survival rate of RH residents was also statistically lower than that of NH residents (χ2 = 6.2, P < 0.05) 1 year after admission.

Conclusions

NH and RH residents in Taiwan experience significantly different trajectory outcomes in 1 year follow-up, suggesting that the placement for older people with long-term care needs should be constantly monitored.

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Acknowledgments

This study received financial support from the National Science Council, Taiwan (Project number: NSC 96-2416-H-006-041 and NSC 97-2410-H-006-021). We thank the proprietors, residents, and residents’ family members in the long-term care institutions to participate this study. MedCom Asia is acknowledged for providing editorial assistance in manuscript preparation. Competing interests: The authors have no competing interest to declare regarding this research. Authors’ contributions: LFL is the principal investigator of this research who conducted the investigation, interpreted the results, and wrote up the manuscript. MJW is the biostatistician for this research who completed all analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan

    Li-Fan Liu

  2. Department of Statistics, College of Management, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Miin-Jye Wen

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  1. Li-Fan Liu
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  2. Miin-Jye Wen
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Correspondence to Li-Fan Liu.

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Liu, LF., Wen, MJ. A longitudinal evaluation of residents’ health outcomes in nursing homes and residential care homes in Taiwan. Qual Life Res 19, 1007–1018 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9667-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9667-8

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