[Evaluation of units for short-term terminal care in nursing homes].
The Units for short-term terminal care in 10 nursing homes were evaluated in terms of (a) meeting minimum care requirements for organisation, personnel and expertise and (b) changes in outcomes in patients. Interview with staff members show that 69% of the care requirements were met. Requirements for expertise development were better met (77%), and requirements for personnel and team were met less well (58%). The studies on patient outcomes show that the patients' functional status decreased as death approached, but symptoms did not decrease with similar rates. In addition, quality of life remained stable. We conclude that the minimum care requirements should be revised, taken into account the way the requirements are used in daily practise. The data seem to point at good quality of care. We advise a repetition of the last evaluation in 2003.
Echteld
M A
MA
EMGO-Instituut Afdeling Sociale Geneeskunde, Van der Boechorststraat 7 1081 BT Amsterdam. michael.echteld@vumc.nl
Ribbe
M W
MW
Deliens
L
L
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*