Vårdberoende, behov av omvårdnad och insatser för äldre med regelbunden vård och omsorg ? del av SNAC-Blekinge, Vårdsystemdelen
Background: The relationship between advanced age, presence of illness and impaired functioning is well known. A large proportion of the elderly population has an extensive need of care and service and therefore need help from municipal care. Aging is a transition in life and also affects the person's identity and self image, making the person particularly vulnerable and challenging everyday safety. It is therefore of importance to gain knowledge about which factors at individual and organizational level that support a person-centered nursing care for the elderly so that caring responsibilities and staffing of nursing personnel may be scheduled based on need. Aim: This study aimed at describing dependency and care needs of elderly persons living in ordinary housing, sheltered housing and nursing homes. Furthermore the study aimed at describing how the dependency was related to the staffing of non-licensed and licensed nursing staff in nursing homes. Method: A descriptive and analytical quantitative method was used in the study. A total of 1310 persons aged 65 years or older, residing in Southern Sweden (Blekinge) and who received regular care and service from the Geriatric Board in Karlskrona, either at home, in sheltered housing or in nursing homes were included in the study. The studied group was reduced to 973 individuals. Result: There is a correlation between the degree of dependence on care and accommodation arrangements (p <0.001). There is no relationship between care needs and living arrangements in the case of chronic wounds (p = 0.0531), pressure ulcers (p = 0.0487) and pain (p = 0.0822). Anxiety/insecurity and depression occur in a relatively high proportion of elderly. There is a difference between how these needs are distributed among the different living arrangements concerning as to regard anxiety/insecurity (p <0.001) and depression (p <0.001).Dependency in the elderly living in nursing homes do not affect the allocation of nursing staff. Conclusion: The results appear to suggest that older people`s well being is impaired when moving to residential care and the care of dependent elderly living in sheltered housing do not influence the allocation of nursing staff. Further research on all issues is recommended. This is to improve the quality of life of elderly living in residential care, which in turn may lead to improvement of the quality of care for the elderly.