According to the CDC, as of 2015, there are approximately 1.3 million residents living in nursing homes in the United States and about 1.7 million licensed nursing home beds.
Although it’s difficult to predict, the Georgetown University Institute for Health Care Research forecasted that the number of residents in nursing homes by 2030 will reach upwards of 5 million.
In what follows, we’ll be outlining some of the most common nursing home medical complications experienced by residents. These complications comprise several categories ranging from infections to mental health conditions.
Most Common Nursing Home Medical Complications
Elderly nursing home residents have an increased risk of certain medical conditions, such as aspiration pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and mental health conditions such as depression.
Aspiration Pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammatory lung condition in response to the aspiration of food or beverage into the trachea and the bronchi and lungs. It typically occurs in the right lung due to the location of the right bronchi.
Common signs and symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include chest pain, difficulty breathing, excessive coughing, wheezing, and fever.
Aspiration pneumonia in a nursing home resident can be a sign of another underlying health concern yet to be identified, such as throat cancer, dementia, or a loss of swallowing function. In addition, it’s essential to evaluate for the other possibility of a stroke in the individual with aspiration.
The risk of pneumonia is increased in nursing home residents when the individual has other underlying conditions such as dementia, nutritional deficiency requiring feeding tubes, or poor dental health and hygiene.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
A UTI, an infection of the urinary tract, can affect the kidneys, bladder, urethra, or ureters.
UTIs are one of the most common health complications and the most commonly diagnosed infections in nursing homes across the United States and other parts of the world, exhibiting a prevalence rate of nearly 6%. According to one study, UTIs accounted for over a third of all diagnosed infections in nursing homes.
Nursing home residents requiring catheters are increasingly prone to UTIs, with over 50% developing symptomatic catheter-related UTIs.
Untreated urinary infections can quickly lead to a systemic infection called sepsis, an emergent condition requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination leading to abnormal leakage of urine, affecting over 50% of all nursing home residents. Although incontinence can happen at any age, it’s most common in older adults.
Causes for urinary incontinence vary. However, some of the most common are urinary tract infections, constipation, certain medications, pelvic floor weakness, nerve damage, pelvic prolapse, and some forms of arthritis.
In addition, many residents of nursing facilities live with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This condition has a strong correlation with urinary incontinence in nursing home residents.
With specific treatments and management options, urinary incontinence is not a significant concern, though the severity of the condition should be evaluated. For example, in nursing facilities, prompted voiding and medication treatment have shown to be helpful in the female population. In the male population, the use of condom catheters has also been shown to be useful if adequately managed with good hygiene.
Depression
Depression is very common in individuals over 65, particularly those in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. While prevalence rates are difficult to measure, it is estimated that those suffering range from 23 to 27%.
Depression in nursing homes is often seen in residents with other pre-existing cognitive impairments; however, many also struggle due to lack of socialization, loneliness, and the psychological concerns of mortality.
While it’s often recognized as an everyday health concern in nursing homes, research on the subject of elderly nursing home depression is relatively sparse. Yet, still, anti-antidepressants are utilized as a standard treatment for elderly individuals in nursing facilities.
Conclusion
The overall outlook of nursing home treatment is one of optimism and positivity. While they often get a bad reputation, most nursing homes are equipped and committed to providing top care to their residents.
In many places, certain nursing facilities are better than others. It should be noted that many complications experienced in nursing homes result from the general health of the individual who resides in the facility. Many individuals move into a nursing facility with pre-existing conditions and risk factors.
As a family member or close friend of an elderly individual living in a hospital, it’s essential to know that you can implement several preventative and management measures to ensure that the risk of developing specific health issues is mitigated.
Depending on the potential health complication, some of the most effective measures include proper hygiene practices, frequent socialization and stimulation, and ensuring that proactive supervision occurs during eating and other activities.
