Laughlin Ann, Parsons Mary, Kosloski Karl D, Bergman-Evans Brenda
School of Nursing, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
J Gerontol Nurs. 2007 Sep;33(9):20-6; quiz 28-9. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20070901-04.
Relocation is traumatic for older adults. There is a paucity of literature about the characteristics of individuals who are most susceptible to negative effects of relocation. Residents of a nursing home that closed were compared with residents of a control institution to determine whether relocation had a significant effect on mortality and to identify risk factors for death. The difference in mortality was significant. A Cox regression model demonstrated that the only variable to achieve significance in predicting mortality was the relocation itself. Research must evaluate strategies that will reduce the negative effects of involuntary relocation.
