A longitudinal study is proposed, comparing care for persons with Alzheimer's disease in four settings: usual in-patient nursing home care, an Alzheimer's disease inpatient nursing home unit, usual day-care and an Alzheimer's disease day-care unit. The study will investigate physical function, cognitive function behavioral abnormalities, use of physical restraints, medication use and utilization of acute hospital care. The major hypotheses are: (1) Physical function, especially of the lower extremities will, other factors being comparable, decline less among clients of the specialized Alzheimer's disease day care and inpatient programs, than among clients of the usual care day care and inpatient units, respectively. (2) Cognitive function among Alzheimer's disease patients will decline at similar rates in the four settings. (3) Negative behavioral manifestations, use of physical restraining devices and use of psychoactive medications will each be lower among clients of the specialized Alzheimer's disease day care and inpatient programs, than among clients of the usual care day care and inpatient units, respectively. (4) Acute care hospitalization will be less frequent among clients of the specialized Alzheimer's disease day care-and inpatient programs, than among clients of the usual care day care and inpatient units, respectively. The study will use standardized structured measurement techniques to as great an extent as possible. Data collection personnel will be blinded to other data elements. Sample size will be adequate for the issues of interest, analyses will be of longitudinal, not cross-sectional data and statistical techniques appropriate to these data will be used. These methodological features will enhance the validity of study results.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01AG010315-02
Application #
3546414
Study Section
Biological and Clinical Aging Review Committee (BCA)
Project Start
1992-04-15
Project End
1996-03-31
Budget Start
1993-04-01
Budget End
1994-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rush University Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Barnes, Lisa L; Wilson, Robert S; Li, Yan et al. (2005) Racial differences in the progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 13:959-67
McCann, Judith J; Gilley, David W; Bienias, Julia L et al. (2004) Temporal patterns of negative and positive behavior among nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease. Psychol Aging 19:336-45
Danhauer, Suzanne C; McCann, Judith J; Gilley, David W et al. (2004) Do behavioral disturbances in persons with Alzheimer's disease predict caregiver depression over time? Psychol Aging 19:198-202
McCann, Judith J; Hebert, Liesi E; Bienias, Julia L et al. (2004) Predictors of beginning and ending caregiving during a 3-year period in a biracial community population of older adults. Am J Public Health 94:1800-6
McCann, J J; Hebert, L E; Beckett, L A et al. (2000) Comparison of informal caregiving by black and white older adults in a community population. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:1612-7
McCann, J J; Gilley, D W; Hebert, L E et al. (1997) Concordance between direct observation and staff rating of behavior in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 52:P63-72