Abstract
Despite the negative nomenclature used to describe interinstitutional relocation of elders—such as relocation stress—research on the detrimental effects of these relocations has so far provided equivocal results. In our analyses we use six years of data from the Minimum Data Set and 301 nursing home residents. We determine some detrimental effects of interinstitutional relocation on changes in cognitive performance, depression, and social engagement. The effects identified were small. Nonetheless, the changes in outcomes identified may be important in the nursing home setting and we believe the continued study of the effects of interinstitutional relocation is important.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beaver, M.L. (1979). The decision-making process and its relationship to relocation adjustment in old people. The Gerontologist, 19, 567–574.
Borup, J. (1982). The effects of varying degrees of inter-institutional environmental change on long-term care patients. The Gerontologist, 22, 409–417.
Borup, J. (1983). Relocation mortality research: Assessment, reply, and a need to refocus on the issues. The Gerontologist, 23, 235–242.
Burnette, K. (1986). Relocation and the elderly: Changing perspectives. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 12, 6–11.
Burrows, A.B., Morris, J.N., Simon, S.E., Hirdes, J.P., & Phillips, C. (2000). Development of a minimum data set-based depression rating scale for use in nursing homes. Age Ageing, 29(2), 165–172.
Castle, N.G. (2001). Relocation of the elderly: A literature review. Medical Care Research and Review, 58(3), 291–333.
Castle, N.G. (2005). Closure of nursing homes and quality of care. Medical Care Research and Review, 62(1), 111–132.
Chanfreau, D., Deadman, J.M., George, H., & Taylor, K.E. (1990). Transfer of long-stay psychiatric patients: A preliminary report of inter-institutional relocation. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29, 59–69.
Chenitz, W.C. (1983). Entry into a nursing home as status passage: A theory to guide nursing practice. Geriatric Nursing, March/April, 92–97.
Coffman, T.L. (1981). Relocation and survival of institutionalized aged: A reexamination of the evidence. The Gerontologist, 21, 483–500.
Csank, J., & Zweig, J. (1980). Relative mortality of chronically ill geriatric patients with organic brain damage, before and after relocation. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, XXVIII(2), 76–83.
Davis, R.E., Thorson, J.A., & Copenhaver, J.H. (1990). Effects of a forced institutional relocation on the mortality and morbidity of nursing home residents. Psychology Reports, 671, 263–266.
Densen, P.M. (1987). The elderly and the health care system: Another perspective. The Milbank Quarterly, 65(4), 614–638.
Friedman, S.M., Williamson, J.D., Lee, B.H., Ankrom, M.A., Ryan, S.D., & Denman, S.J. (1995). Increased fall rates in nursing home residents after relocation to a new facility. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 43(11), 1237–1242.
General Accounting Office (1999). Nursing homes: HCFA initiatives to improve care are under way but will require continued commitment. T-HEHS-99-155. June 30, 1999.
Grant, P., Skinkle, R., & Lipps, G. (1992). The impact of interinstitutional relocation on nursing home residents requiring a higher level of care. The Gerontologist, 32(6), 834–842.
Harrington, C., Zimmerman, D., Karon, S.L., Robinson, J., & Beutel, P. (2000). Nursing home staffing and its relationship to deficiencies. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 55B(5), S278-S287.
Hawes, C., Morris, J.N., Phillips, C.D., Mor, V., Fries, B.E., & Nonemaker, S. (1995). Reliability estimates for the minimum data set for nursing homes residents assessment and care screening. The Gerontologist, 35(2), 172–178.
Kao, H.F., Travis, S.S., & Acton, G.J. (2004). Relocation to a long-term care facility: Working with patients and families before, during, and after. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 42(3), 10–16.
Killian, E.C. (1970). Effect of geriatric transfers on mortality rates. Social Work, 15, 10–26.
Knepper, K. (1996). Involuntary transfers and discharges of nursing home residents under federal and state laws. The Journal of Legal Medicine, 17, 215–275.
Kowalski, N. (1981). Institutional relocation: Current programs and applied approaches. The Gerontologist, 21, 512–519.
Markus, E., Blenkner, M., Bloom, M., & Downs, T. (1972). Some factors and their association with post-relocation mortality among institutionalized aged persons. Journal of Gerontology, 27, 376–382.
Mirotznik, J., & Kamp, L.L. (2000). Cognitive status and relocation stress: A test of the vulnerability hypothesis. The Gerontologist, 40(5), 531–539.
Mor, V., Branco, K., Fleishman, J., Hawes, C., Phillips, C., Morris, J.N., & Fries, B. (1995). The structure of social engagement among nursing home residents. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 50B, P1-P8.
Morris, J.N., Fries, B.E., Mehr, D.R., Hawes, C., Phillips, C., Mor, V., & Lipsitz, L.A. (1994). MDS Cognitive Performance Scale. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 49(4), M174-M182.
Morris, J.N., Hawes, C., Fries, B.E., Phillips, C.D., Mor, V., Katz, S., Murphy, K., Drugovich, M.L., & Friedlob, A.S. (1990). Designing the national resident assessment instrument for nursing homes. Gerontologist, 30, 293–307.
Netten, A., Darton, R., & Williams, J. (2003). Nursing home closures: effects on capacity and reasons for closure. Age and Ageing, 32(3), 332–337.
Nypaver, J., Titus, M., & Brugler, C. (1996). Patient transfer to rehabilitation: Just another move? Rehabilitation Nursing, 212, 94–97.
Pablo, R. (1977). Intra-institutional relocation: Its impact on long-term care patients. The Gerontologist, 17, 426–435.
Phillips, C., Morris, J.N., Hawes, C., Fries, B.E., Mor, V., Nennstiel, M., & Iannacchione, V. (1997). Association of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) with changes in function, cognition, and psychosocial status. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 45, 986–993.
Pruncho, R., & Resch, N. (1988). Institutional relocation: Mortality effects. The Gerontologist, 28, 311–317.
Prunchno, R.A., & Rose, M.S. (2000). The effect of long-term care environments on health outcomes. The Gerontologist, 40(4), 422–428.
Weinstock, A., Wulkan, P., Colon, C.J., Coleman, J., & Goncalves, S. (1979). Stress inoculation and interinstitutional transfer of mentally retarded individuals. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 83(4), 385–390.
Wood, E.F. (2002). Termination and closure of poor quality nursing homes: What are the options? AARP: AARP, Washington D.C.
Yamaguchi, K. (1992). Event History Analyses. Newberry Park, CA: Sage.
Yawney, B.A., & Slover, D.L. (1973). Relocation of the elderly. Social Work, 18, 86–95.
Zeger, S.L., & Liang, K.Y. (1992). An overview of methods for the analysis of longitudinal data. Statistics in Medicine, 11(14), 1825–1839. Zweig, J., & Csank, J. (1975). Effects of relocation on chronically ill geriatric patients of a medical unit: Mortality rates. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 23, 132–136.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
He currently has over 75 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and is the PI on five active grants and one federal contract. He is currently examining staff turnover in nursing homes, the federal report card Nursing Home Compare, and nursing home administrator job satisfaction.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castle, N.G. Changes in health status subsequent to nursing home closure. Ageing Int. 30, 263–277 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-005-1015-x
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-005-1015-x