Delirium Severity and Physical Function in Hospitalized Persons Living With Dementia: Moderation by Age, Sex, and Race.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race) moderated delirium severity as a predictor of physical function in hospitalized persons living with dementia. METHODS: The sample consisted of 351 patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (Function Focused Care for Acute Care Using the Evidence Integration Triangle). Preliminary analysis was conducted to assess the main effect, and multiple linear regression was used to examine the moderating effect of demographic characteristics between delirium severity and physical function. RESULTS: Both age and sex were found to have significant moderating effects on the relationship between delirium severity and physical function (ß = 2.22; P = 0.02 and ß = 1.34; P = 0.04, respectively). Older adults aged 85 years or older with higher levels of delirium severity reported lower levels of physical function compared with older adults aged 65 to 84 years. Males with higher levels of delirium severity reported lower levels of physical function compared with females. Race did not significantly moderate the association between delirium severity and physical function (ß = 0.22; P = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that age and sex may have differential effects on physical function across different levels of delirium severity in hospitalized persons living with dementia.

Caregiver preparedness is associated with desire to seek long-term care admission of hospitalized persons with dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalized patients with dementia are more likely to be discharged to long-term care compared to persons without dementia. Little research has been conducted to examine the associations of caregiver preparedness and strain with desire to seek long-term care in hospitalized persons with dementia at discharge. The purpose of this study was to examine caregiver preparedness and strain as factors associated with desire to seek long-term care admission in caregivers of persons with dementia at hospital discharge. METHODS: Patient baseline and discharge data, and caregiver discharge data of 424 patient and caregiver dyads from a cluster randomized trial was used. Stepwise multiple linear regression was conducted to examine factors associated with caregiver desire to seek long-term care. RESULTS: After controlling for caregiver and patient characteristics, lower caregiver preparedness (ß = -0.069; p < 0.016) was significantly associated with increased desire to seek long-term care. DISCUSSION: Findings underscore the need for clinicians and service providers to provide further attention to caregiver preparedness throughout the course of hospitalization.