serval:BIB_12E3444CCB33
Will to Live in Older Nursing Home Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study in Switzerland.
10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.05.006
000711954100004
34000336
Bornet
M.A.
author
Rubli Truchard
E.
author
Bernard
M.
author
Pasquier
J.
author
Borasio
G.D.
author
Jox
R.J.
author
article
2021-11
Journal of pain and symptom management
1873-6513
0885-3924
journal
62
5
902-909
The will to live (WTL) is an important indicator of subjective well-being. It may enable a deeper understanding of the well-being of nursing home residents.
To evaluate the intensity of WTL, its association with various factors, and its temporal evolution among residents ≥ 65 years old; we also aimed to compare it with proxy assessments of WTL.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in five nursing homes in Switzerland. Participants with decisional capacity were asked to rate the intensity of their WTL on a single-item numerical rating scale ranging from 0-10. A short-term follow-up was conducted among a sub-sample of 17 participants after three and six weeks. Proxy assessment by residents' next of kin and professional caregivers was conducted, and inter-rater agreement was calculated.
Data from 103 participants (75.7% women, 87.3 ± 8.0 years) was analyzed. The median intensity of WTL was 8. Higher WTL was significantly associated with better physical mobility and shorter duration of daily care but not with age, gender, pre-admission care setting, or prognosis. Significant independent predictors of WTL were physical mobility and provenance from rehabilitative care. In the short-term follow-up assessment, WTL remained highly stable. Intraclass correlation coefficients were moderate for residents' next of kin and nurse assistants but poor for physicians and nurses; all proxy assessments underestimated the participants' WTL.
Nursing home residents expressed a very strong WTL and proxy aents underestimated residents' WTL. It seems pivotal to proactively communicate with residents about their WTL.
Aged
Caregivers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Nursing Homes
Proxy
Switzerland
Will to live
geriatric palliative care
nursing homes
older persons
wish to live
eng
60_published
FOUNDATION_LEENAARDS//
OTHER//G. and J. Bangerter- Rhyner Foundation and the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences
true
peer-reviewed
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
University of Lausanne
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