Adverse events associated with the Res-Care Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to evaluate the adverse events associated with a restorative care intervention (Res-Care) in nursing home (NH) residents.

DESIGN: A randomized controlled repeated-measure design and generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate status at baseline and 4 and 12 months after initiation of the Res-Care Intervention.

SETTING: Twelve NHs in Maryland.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 487 residents; 256 in treatment sites and 231 in control sites, all long-stay NH residents ages 65 and older, with an MMSE of 11 or greater.

INTERVENTION: The Res-Care Intervention was a 2-tiered self-efficacy-based intervention focused on motivating nursing assistants to actively engage residents in functional and physical activities.

MEASUREMENTS: Baseline (2-month pre-intervention), 4-month, and 12-month records of adverse events, including falls, fall-related injuries, fractures, emergency room (ER) visits, hospital admissions, and death abstracted from NH records.

RESULTS: There were significant baseline differences between treatment groups in resident race (more African Americans in control sites) and ER visits (more visits in treatment sites 2 months before intervention). Longitudinal models revealed significant differences in ER visits at 4 months and number of fallers at 12 months that were in the direction of a protective effect of treatment over time.

CONCLUSION: The Res-Care Intervention, which maximizes physical functioning, is safe to conduct in NH residents and does not result in increased risks of falling, injury, or other adverse events.