Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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To determine the prevalence of electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities at different levels of cognitive impairment and to assess the possible diagnostic usefulness of the test. ⋯ These findings suggest that the EEG is a moderately sensitive but non-specific indicator of brain dysfunction in the elderly. The significance of abnormalities among patients with equivocal impairment should be more fully assessed by longitudinal follow-up to determine if greater cognitive impairment develops.
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To assess the attitude and factors affecting decision-making by offspring for life-sustaining measures toward their elderly terminally ill parents. ⋯ Basic life-sustaining measures are requested for the terminally ill parents by most of the offspring. A significant minority even requested aggressive life-sustaining measures. The degree of religiosity and closeness of relationship influenced offspring's request most strongly.
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To determine the rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation use among all nursing homes in a large urban area, to examine CPR use over time, to discover whether CPR use varies among nursing homes, and to describe characteristics of patients undergoing CPR. ⋯ The utilization of CPR in nursing homes is quite low. Non-profit homes utilize CPR less than proprietary homes. Nursing homes with the highest numbers of deaths per bed utilize CPR less than homes with lower numbers of deaths per bed. Nursing home residents receiving CPR are quite old, have multiple illnesses, and are impaired.