Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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Depression is common among those aged 65 and older and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study investigated whether individuals enrolled in Medicare+Choice with symptoms of depression as measured using the mental health scale from the SF-36 were at increased risk of using nursing home services. ⋯ These results have implications for payers of nursing home services such as Medicare and Medicaid as well as for providers and the families of older individuals. While the results do not prove that prevention is possible, they do suggest that better identification and treatment of depression reduce the risk of nursing home admission. Even if nursing home placement cannot be avoided, it is possible that the individual's quality of life could be significantly enhanced by better diagnosis and treatment of depression. These findings have implications beyond the Medicare+Choice population.
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To document job satisfaction and sources of stress among nursing staff working in nursing homes and to evaluate the extent to which the reasons of stress differ by type of nursing staff. ⋯ The findings of this study support the need to improve recognition for nursing, improve staffing, and provide competitive compensation in nursing homes.