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Review
. 2018 Mar 1;44(3):23-30.
doi: 10.3928/00989134-20171206-01. Epub 2018 Jan 23.

Emergency Department Use by Community-Dwelling Individuals With Dementia in the United States: An Integrative Review

Lauren J Hunt, Lorinda A Coombs, Caroline E Stephens
Review

Emergency Department Use by Community-Dwelling Individuals With Dementia in the United States: An Integrative Review

Lauren J Hunt et al. J Gerontol Nurs. .

Abstract

As part of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, reducing potentially avoidable emergency department (ED) use by individuals with dementia has been identified as a component of enhancing the quality and efficiency of care for this population. To help inform the development of interventions to achieve this goal, an integrative review was conducted to: (a) compare rates and reasons for ED visits by community-dwelling individuals with and without dementia, considering also the effect of dementia subtype and severity; and (b) identify other risk factors for increased ED use among community-dwelling individuals with dementia. Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria. Individuals with dementia had higher rates of ED visits compared to those without dementia, although differences were attenuated in the last year of life. Increased symptoms and disability were associated with increased rates of ED visits, whereas resources that enabled effective management of increased need decreased rates. Gerontological nurses across settings are on the frontlines of preventing potentially avoidable ED visits by community-dwelling individuals with dementia through patient and family education and leadership in the development of new models of care. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(3), 23-30.].

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Care Use adapted to emergency department (ED) use by community-dwelling individuals with dementia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Article selection flow diagram. Note. ED = emergency department.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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