The overview of a comparison between the disabilities of elderly in nursing homes and the community residents in the republic of ireland

The overview of a comparison between the disabilities of elderly in nursing homes and the community residents in the republic of ireland

Profiling Disability within Nursing Homes: a census based Approach by Marianne Falconer and Desmond O’ Neill is a Quantitative Research focusing on the Geriatric field in Ireland. In this research they are comparing the disabilities among the elderly citizens in the Nursing homes and the Community resident elderly citizens based on a census in all homes and dwelling in the Republic of Ireland.
Ageing at all stages of development is accompanied by both growth and loss. The losses of the old age, in particular those brought about by age –related disease, give rise to increasing levels of disability in the later life. Age related disabilities continue to be one of the commonest factors precipitating admission into nursing homes. Studies in the United Kingdom showed that about 75% of the residents in the nursing homes are moderately to severely disable.
The research is performed based on the 2002 Irish National Census including people temporarily staying temporarily in the hose hold, persons in the communal establishments and persons on board vessels. To conduct this research the researchers focuses on some questions on the disabilities of the people in the questionnaire, which correspond to some everlasting conditions like blindness, deafness and some physical disabilities. Also on the difficulty of the family members to perform the activities such as learning, remembering, dressing, bathing etc. From this data the disability prevalence among the people over 65 was considered and made a comparison with the elderly nursing home residents and the elderly community residents to bring out the research.
As far as the authors are concerned this is the first Research based conducted based on a census to compare the prevalence of the disabilities of a elderly nursing home residents and the community residents. And the studies found out that the nursing homes elderly people are the majority in the disability as compared to the elderly in the community settings. The study also found out that the elderly citizens in the nursing homes have more prevalence to the memory problems which can be due to the Dementia. Also this is one of the reason which accounts for the admission of the elderly in the Nursing homes. Another aspect that the researchers found is the age differences among the elderly which can be a factor for the higher prevalence of the disabilities. The results shows that the majority of the elderly living in the Nursing homes are above 80 while the majority of the elderly in the community are below 80, which explains one of the reason why elderly in nursing homes are prone to the disabilities.
This study based on the Census report in Ireland found out that the nursing homes in Ireland are mostly occupied with the most frail group in the society who needs more care and attention. So this research emphasizes the importance of the appropriate health care resources and the facilities in the area. The studies also points that most of the people are get overcome from their disabilities by the therapies and treatments. But the adequate facilities are not provisioned to them. Challis et al noted that about 35% of the recently admitted care home residents are suffered from the Rheumatologic disorders and or stroke, conditions which are potential for active rehabilitation. And the nursing home does not have the proper therapies and the proper care staffs for the better rehabilitation. Another aspect the research found out is that the most of the disabilities of the dementia cases in the home setting are not addressed properly for the provision of the better care. These unmet needs leads to the psychological problems of the elderly such as anxiety and depression.
The results shows that the almost three-quarters of nursing home patients are unable to go outside alone compared to 15% of those in the community .Over two thirds of nursing home residents have a condition that limits one or more basic physical activity, 64% have difficulties dressing, bathing and mobilizing, while 58% have difficulties learning, remembering and concentrating, suggestive of a very high prevalence of dementia. This compares to almost20%, 11% and 8% respectively of older people living in the community. 79% of those in nursing homes with disability were limited in at least one physical activity, 83% were unable to go outside alone and 75% had difficulties dressing, bathing or getting around inside the house. This compares to 66%, 51% and36% respectively for those older people with disabilities living in the community. Of those nursing home residents with a recorded disability, 67% had difficulties learning, remembering and concentrating compared to just over a quarter of those living in the community with a disability again suggesting high rates of cognitive impairment (and to a lesser extent, dementia) within nursing homes.