Length of stay in VA nursing homes. Comparative characteristics of brief-, medium-, and long-stay residents.
To examine the patterns and determinants of length of stay among residents of nursing homes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the authors conducted a retrospective follow-up study of all persons (n = 4,918) admitted to VA nursing homes between October 1986, and April 1987, using computerized records of the VA. Brief-stay (< 1 month; n = 1,139) residents had most often had previous admissions to VA nursing homes and were usually discharged alive from the nursing home. Medium-stay (1-6 months; n = 1,947) residents were the least functionally impaired and most likely to receive rehabilitative services. Long-stay residents (> 6 months; n = 1,832) were older and more functionally impaired than other residents. Medium- and long-stay residents of VA nursing homes most resembled "short-" and "long-stay" residents among non-VA nursing home residents, respectively. Brief-stay residents may be persons admitted for "respite" services or may be serial users of both VA and non-VA health services. Further study of this population may identify opportunities to decrease "revolving-door" use of nursing home services.
Williams
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BC
Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, MI.
Fries
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BE
Mehr
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DR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*