title: Changes over time in the health and functioning of older people moving into care homes: analysis of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
abstract: the number of people requiring care home support is projected to rise in future years, but little information is available on the needs of new care home residents.
  
  
  
  to measure the health and functioning of people moving into care homes and how they have changed between 2002 and 2015.
  
  
  
  English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
  
  
  
  two hundred fifty-four of the 313 (1.99%) individuals who moved from the community into a care home, and were interviewed in the survey wave prior to entry.
  
  
  
  changes over time for number of health conditions and functional deficits (deficits in activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental ADLs (IADLs)), assessed in the survey wave prior to admission.
  
  
  
  over time there were significant increases in the total number of health conditions and functional deficits amongst soon to be care home entrants (P = 0.0011), the proportion with high blood pressure (OR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.17-1.62, P < 0.0001), memory problems (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.11-1.61, P = 0.0021) or total number of IADL deficits (P = 0.008). Non-significant increases were observed in the proportion of care home entrants with cancer (OR 1.23, 95% CI: 0.93-1.65, P = 0.15), lung disease (OR 1.21, 95% CI: 0.85-1.75), heart disease (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.95-1.30) and arthritis (OR 1.11, 95% CI: 0.95-1.30). Stroke and ADL deficits did not increase. No differential ageing effect was observed.
  
  
  
  the support needs of care home entrants in England appear to be increasing over time. This has important implications for the provision and funding of care home places and community services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.|MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge UK.
authors.forename: Fiona E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanratty
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ageing; care homes; functional impairment; nursing homes; older people