Literature Review
Alzheimer's disease inflicts approximately three million Americans each year. The high prevalence of the disease has sparked the creation of Alzheimer's Specialty Care Units (SCUs). These SCUs are geriatric care units that are specifically tailored to benefit those who live with Alzheimer's. The staff of these units are specially trained to care for dementia patients, and the facilities themselves are designed in a manner that minimizes loss and maximizes the comfort and safety of the patients. For instance, their floor plans are very simple and minimal, and may or may not include decorations that remind the patrons of their youth, in order to make them feel comfortable (Chappell NL, 2000). In fact, a study conducted by Zeisel, Silverstein, Hyde, Levkoff, Lawton, and Holmes concluded that associations exist between "each behavioral health measure and particular environmental design features, as well as between behavioral health measures and both resident and nonenvironmental facility variables" (Zeisel, Silverstein, Hyde, Levkoff, Lawton, Holmes, 2002).
However, although the intentions behind the establishment of Special Care Units are good, unexpected negative effects can subsequently occur. For instance, according to a study conducted by Gruneir, Lapane, and Miller, the use of antipsychotics actually increased when a dementia SCU was introduced to a nursing home. These antipsychotics almost always include negative side effects that may or may not be long-lasting. The same study also concluded that "differences in care processes between [nursing homes] with and without [dementia SCUs] are the result of differences in their underlying approach to care, not the result of care practice diffusion from the [dementia SCU]" (Gruneir, Lapane, Miller, 2008). This conclusion peaked my curiosity and made me want to investigate further. I would like to find out more about how the differences in care quality affect the patients in an SCU vs a mainstream nursing home. In order to do this, I will be researching both quantitative and qualitative data from many sources in order to draw a few conclusions about this issue. This data, collected through Skype interviews with Alzheimer's patients, can be viewed here.
Sources:
Chappell, NL, and RC Reid. "Chappell NL." Dimensions of Care for Dementia Sufferers in Long-term Care Institutions: Are They Related To... Europe PubMed Central, 2000. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
"Gruneir A." Does the Presence of a Dementia Special Care Unit Improve Nursing Home Quality? Europe PubMed Central, 2008. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Selbaek, G., O. Kirkevold, and K. Engedeal. "Selbaek G." Psychiatric and Behavioural Symptoms and the Use of Psychotropic Medication in Special Care... Scandanavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2007. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Zeisel, John, Nina Silverstein, Joan Hyde, Sue Levkoff, M. Lawton, and William Holmes. "The Gerontologist." Environmental Correlates to Behavioral Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Special Care Units. The Gerontological Society of America, 2002. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
However, although the intentions behind the establishment of Special Care Units are good, unexpected negative effects can subsequently occur. For instance, according to a study conducted by Gruneir, Lapane, and Miller, the use of antipsychotics actually increased when a dementia SCU was introduced to a nursing home. These antipsychotics almost always include negative side effects that may or may not be long-lasting. The same study also concluded that "differences in care processes between [nursing homes] with and without [dementia SCUs] are the result of differences in their underlying approach to care, not the result of care practice diffusion from the [dementia SCU]" (Gruneir, Lapane, Miller, 2008). This conclusion peaked my curiosity and made me want to investigate further. I would like to find out more about how the differences in care quality affect the patients in an SCU vs a mainstream nursing home. In order to do this, I will be researching both quantitative and qualitative data from many sources in order to draw a few conclusions about this issue. This data, collected through Skype interviews with Alzheimer's patients, can be viewed here.
Sources:
Chappell, NL, and RC Reid. "Chappell NL." Dimensions of Care for Dementia Sufferers in Long-term Care Institutions: Are They Related To... Europe PubMed Central, 2000. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
"Gruneir A." Does the Presence of a Dementia Special Care Unit Improve Nursing Home Quality? Europe PubMed Central, 2008. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Selbaek, G., O. Kirkevold, and K. Engedeal. "Selbaek G." Psychiatric and Behavioural Symptoms and the Use of Psychotropic Medication in Special Care... Scandanavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2007. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Zeisel, John, Nina Silverstein, Joan Hyde, Sue Levkoff, M. Lawton, and William Holmes. "The Gerontologist." Environmental Correlates to Behavioral Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Special Care Units. The Gerontological Society of America, 2002. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.