title: The effects of mental dysfunction on nursing home care.
abstract: Many of the residents of nursing homes have mental health problems. These can be expected to affect the quantity of nursing care they require. Analysis of 285 nursing home residents, most of whom had moderate behavioral problems, reveals that their mental health characteristics can be summarized in terms of three factors: cognition, affect and aggressiveness. Cognitive deficits significantly increase the quantity of basic nursing services patients require. Negative affect increases the amount of psychosocial care received. The results of the analysis are interpreted as indicating that nursing home reimbursement systems should account for moderate as well as severe mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Hospital and Health Administration, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rohrer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buckwalter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000639:trends; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics; D014768:Virginia