Who needs a nursing home? A simple and effective screening test.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the Barthel Index (BI) or Folstein's Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) could distinguish between patients who might continue at home with domiciliary care and those requiring institutional long-term care. The results of the BI and the MMSE were compared with decisions made by an expert multidisciplinary team, including geriatricians. A Barthel score of 15 or less had a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 83% and a predictive value of 84% for determining those patients requiring nursing home placement. The BI proved to be a simple, accurate and reliable indicator of patients requiring nursing home care. The MMSE was of no predictive value in distinguishing the patients' discharge destinations.
Miskelly
F G
FG
Care of the Elderly Department, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Subhani
J M
JM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom