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Functioning and Health Service Use Among Elderly Nursing Home Residents With Alcohol Use Disorders

Findings From The National Nursing Home Survey

Received October 22, 2003; revised May 20, August 20, 2004; accepted September 7, 2004. From the Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park Division, Menlo Park, CA. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Penny Brennan, Ph.D., Center for Health Care Evaluation (152-MPD), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park Division, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. e-mail: penny.brennan{at}med.va.gov
© 2005 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Objective: The author asked whether older nursing home residents with alcohol use disorders differ from demographically-matched residents without alcohol use disorders on functioning, admission characteristics, and health services use. Method: National Nursing Home Survey data were used to compare nursing home residents with alcohol use disorders (N=216) with demographically-matched residents without alcohol use disorders (N=216) on functioning, admission characteristics, and health services use. Results: Residents with alcohol use disorders functioned somewhat better than did residents in the demographically-matched sample group, as indicated by performance of basic activities of daily living. However, they were significantly more likely to have lived alone before admission and to have obtained mental health and social services. There was a significant group x gender interaction on length of stay: men with alcohol use disorders had shorter lengths of stay than did men without alcohol use disorders; women with alcohol use disorders had longer lengths of stay than did women without such disorders. Conclusions: Having fewer social resources may contribute to elevated admission risk and need for mental health and social services among older nursing home residents who have alcohol use disorders. Duration and severity of alcohol problems may help explain gender differences in length of stay among these residents.

Key Words: Health Service Use • Nursing Home Residents • Alcoholism

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