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Purpose: We evaluated oral frailty (OFr) and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), energy and protein intake, and survival among older long-term care residents., Methods: This cross-sectional study with a 3-year follow-up for survival assessed 349 residents in long-term care facilities (73% female, mean age 82 years). We defined OFr with six signs (dry mouth, food residue on oral surfaces, unclear speech, inability to keep mouth open or pain expression during the clinical oral examination, diet pureed/soft) and OFr severity was categorized as Group 1, (mild) = 0-1 signs, Group 2 (moderate) = 2-4 signs, and Group 3 (severe) = 5-6 signs. We measured HRQoL with 15D instrument, and energy and protein intake by a 1- to 2-day food record. Mortality was retrieved from central registers on March 2021., Results: Of the residents, 15% had 0-1, 67% 2-4 and 18% 5-6 OFr signs. HRQoL decreased linearly from Group 1 to Group 3. OFr correlated with such dimensions of HRQoL as mobility, eating, speech, excretion, usual activities, mental function, and vitality. We found no association between OFr categories and energy and protein intake. Survival decreased linearly from Group 1 to Group 3., Conclusions: OFr was common among older long-term care residents and OFr severity predicts poorer outcomes. The six oral signs denoting OFr may be used at the bedside to screen residents at risk for OFr., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: We compared the prevalence of COVID-19 and related mortality in nursing homes (NHs) in 14 countries until October 2021. We explored the relationship between COVID-19 mortality in NHs with the average size of NHs and with the COVID-19 deaths at a population level., Methods: The total number of COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related deaths in all NHs as well as the total number of NHs and NH beds were provided by representatives of 14 countries. The population level respective figures in each country were provided up to October 2021., Results: There was a wide variation in prevalence of COVID-19 cases and deaths between countries. We observed a significant correlation between COVID-19 deaths in NHs and that of the total population and between the mean size of NHs and COVID-19 deaths., Conclusion: Side-by-side comparisons between countries allow international sharing of good practice to better enable future pandemic preparedness., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: We evaluated the level of oral hygiene and its association with oral health status and need for oral treatment among older residents in long-term care facilities. In addition, the association between oral hygiene level and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was explored., Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 231 dentate residents in long-term care facilities (71% female, mean age 81 years, 70% had dementia). Nurses assessed residents and completed questionnaires on participants' background information, diagnoses, oral healthcare habits, and HRQoL with the 15D instrument. Two qualified dentists performed clinical oral examinations (number of teeth, plaque index, periodontal condition, open caries lesions, and dry mouth). We used a modified plaque index (PI) to measure the level of oral hygiene (good, moderate, and poor) and calculated the clinical Asymptotic Dental Score (ADS) to determine the oral inflammation burden., Results: Of the residents, 21% had good, 35% moderate, and 44% poor oral hygiene according to PI. Poor oral hygiene was associated with poorer cognitive status (P = 0.010) and higher oral inflammation burden (P < 0.001). Moreover, poor oral hygiene was associated with poorer HRQoL in a correlation analysis adjusted for age and gender., Conclusions: Oral hygiene of older individuals in long-term care is insufficient. Poor oral hygiene is a marker for poor HRQoL. Residents also have a high burden of oral inflammatory diseases and a need for dental care. Older residents' oral hygiene and HRQoL may be improved with oral care education of caregivers and regular dental check-ups., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The primary focus in long-term care is to maintain quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and their interaction with dementia severity among institutionalized older people with dementia., Methods: 352 long-term care residents aged 65 years or over with dementia participated in this cross-sectional study. NPS were measured with Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). HRQoL was measured with 15D. Dementia severity was measured with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)., Results: The severity of NPS was significantly associated with better HRQoL in 15D. Residents with severe dementia (CDR 3) had worse HRQoL than residents with mild-moderate dementia (CDR < 3). There was a significant interaction between NPI and CDR (p = 0.037 for NPI, p < 0.001 for CDR, p < 0.001 for interaction). HRQoL correlated positively with all NPS subgroups in residents with severe dementia, but in residents with mild-moderate dementia, no significant correlation existed. In severe dementia, higher NPI correlated positively with such dimensions of 15D as mobility, vision, eating, speech, excretion, usual activities, mental functions, and vitality, whereas in residents with mild-moderate dementia only with mobility. In mild-moderate dementia, NPI correlated negatively with depression, distress and vitality., Conclusion: Dementia severity and NPS burden are important determining factors of HRQoL in long-term care. NPS have a distinct impact on HRQoL at different stages of dementia. In severe dementia, higher NPS and better HRQoL indicate better functioning and higher vitality., (© 2019. The Author(s).)

Purpose: We aim to describe the design, educational intervention, baseline findings and feasibility of our training intervention. Our trial will aim to improve the residents' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations., Methods: We recruited 340 residents from 20 nursing home wards in Helsinki, and they were randomized into intervention and control groups. At baseline, all the participants were assessed for demographics, medical history, medication, HRQOL, symptoms, hospitalizations, advance care plans, and proxies' satisfaction with care. The staff in the intervention wards were offered four 4-h educational sessions on the principles of palliative care (advance care planning, the adverse effects of hospitalizations, symptom management, communication, giving support to proxies and challenging situations). The sessions were based on constructive learning methods and patient cases., Results: The mean age of residents was 84 years and 76% were women. The intervention and control groups did not differ with respect to demographics, terminal diseases, comorbidities, nutritional status, cognition or the use of palliative medication. However, the control residents were more likely to be bed-bound and to have a do-not-resuscitate order on their medical chart. Of about 180 staff members, 132 completed the educational intervention. The discussions in the training sessions were lively and the participants gave an overall rating of 4.6/5 for the education., Conclusions: We have successfully randomized nursing home wards in this trial and completed staff training with very positive feedback. If our trial shows resident-related benefits, we will have a well-defined model for improving palliative care in nursing homes. The study was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry under the intervention code: ACTRN12617001040358., (© 2019. The Author(s).)

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is associated with survival in older people with multimorbidities and disabilities. However, older people differ in their characteristics, and less is known about whether HRQoL predicts survival in heterogeneous older population samples differing in their functional, cognitive, psychological or social disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore HRQoL in heterogeneous samples of older men and women, and to explore its prognostic significance for mortality., Methods: We analysed combined individual patient data from eight heterogeneous study samples all of which were assessed with the same methods. We used 15D, a generic, comprehensive instrument for measuring HRQoL, which provides a single index in addition to a profile. Two-year mortality was retrieved from central registers., Results: Health-related quality of life measurements with 15D were available for 3153 older adults. The mean HRQoL was highest among older businessmen (0.878) and lowest among nursing home residents (0.601). 15D predicted independently and significantly the 2-year survival in the total sample [hazard ratio (HR)/SD 0.44, 95% CI 0.40-0.48)]. However, 15D did not predict mortality in samples of spousal caregivers, lonely older adults and cardiovascular patients., Conclusions: 15D captures health and disability factors associated with prognosis whereas in older populations suffering from psychological and social impairments such as caregiver burden or loneliness HRQoL may not reflect their health risks., (© 2018. European Geriatric Medicine Society.)

Background: Pain and diabetes are related to the decreased self-rated health. The aim of this population-based study was to analyze how pain affects self-rated health among people aged 65 or older with and without type 2 diabetes., Design: Population-based cross-sectional cohort study., Setting: Inner Savo district, Finland., Participants: Home-dwelling people 65 and older with diabetes, and age- and sex-matched control patients without diabetes were identified from electronic patient records in primary care. Questionnaires were sent home to 514 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 890 individuals without diabetes., Measurements: The study participants rated their health with the Likert-type scale and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). According to experienced pain, three groups were formed: (1) subjects without pain or with pain once a week at most, (2) pain more often than once a week, and (3) daily or continuous pain., Results: When adjusted for propensity score, the decreased proportion of people with good self-rated health was associated with frequent pain (p < 0.001). No interaction between diabetes and pain was found (p = 0.55). Respectively, the decreasing ratings of self-rated health in VAS was associated with frequent pain (p < 0.001) without interaction (p = 0.14). Daily pain was associated similarly with poor self-rated health in people with and without diabetes., Conclusions: Frequent pain independently and without interaction associated with self-rated health in older adults. Frequent pain may have more significant impact on self-rated health than diabetes. Preventing and treating frequent pain in older people with and without diabetes may have significant potential in retaining and improving self-rated health., (© 2017. European Geriatric Medicine Society.)