EFFECTS OF A NURSING-HOME RESPITE ADMISSION ON VETERANS WITH ADVANCEDDEMENTIA

The short-term admission to a nursing home of patients with dementia r epresents an important respite option for their caregivers, yet little is known about how it affects the patients. Twenty-six of 39 men admi tted to a Veterans Affairs dementia respite program experienced a smal l but statistically significant decline in self-care and behavior at 2 days after discharge, but by 14 days most had returned to their pre-r espite status. Patients who deteriorated substantially had, on average , greater independence in self-care and less cognitive impairment at a dmission than those who improved or worsened minimally.