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Forced relocation between nursing homes: residents' health outcomes and potential moderators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2012

Jacquetta M Holder  and
David Jolley
Jacquetta M Holder*
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, The University of Kent, Canterbury
David Jolley
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Jacquetta Holder, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NF, UK. Email: j.m.holder@kent.acc.uk
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Summary

That transfer of older people from one institution to another is detrimental to well-being, health and survival has been reported for 50 years. This has led to fear, anger and legal challenges when closures occur. Previous reviews identified accounts of relocation followed by adverse outcomes and others where problems were avoided or benefits claimed. This paper reviews the last twelve years of literature on health outcomes following involuntary relocation between nursing homes. Reports of post-move mortality, physical or psychological health suggest and confirm that relocation without preparation carries higher risk of poor outcomes than moves that are orderly and include preparation. The literature on the care home closure process, admissions and individual transfers offers insights into practices that might help minimize adverse outcomes. A number of agencies have produced helpful guidelines. How these are implemented needs to be monitored and linked to in-depth studies of sample closures.

Keywords

nursing homerelocationmortalityoutcomeshealth
Type
Psychological and social gerontology
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , November 2012 , pp. 301 - 319
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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