Residential care community characteristics vary by dementia prevalence

(HealthDay)—Residential care communities (RCCs) with a high proportion of residents diagnosed with dementia have a higher prevalence of depression and need for assistance with activities of daily living, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Manisha Sengupta, Ph.D., and Christine Caffrey, Ph.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, examined characteristics of RCCs and their residents by the prevalence of Alzheimer disease and other dementias.

Overall, 25.3 percent of RCCs had more than 75 percent of their residents diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and other dementias. The researchers found that more RCCs with more than 75 percent of their residents diagnosed with dementia were in metropolitan statistical areas versus RCCs with 25 to 75 percent and less than 25 percent of their residents diagnosed with dementia (90.5 versus 81.4 and 76.4 percent, respectively). Compared with the other dementia prevalence categories, in RCCs with more than 75 percent of their residents diagnosed with dementia, aide and activities staff hours per resident day were higher. The prevalence of depression and need for assistance with activities of daily living were increased in RCCs with more than 75 percent of residents diagnosed with dementia versus other dementia prevalence categories.

"These findings may inform providers, policy makers, researchers, and consumer advocates about differences in RCCs according to the prevalence of dementia in the resident population," the authors write.

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