An older person who has trouble bathing faces a 77% greater chance of a long-term nursing home admission, a new study has determined.
Bathing difficulties had no effect on short-term admissions, according to the study, which was published in the August issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. Researchers with the Dorothy Adler Geriatric Assessment Center at the Yale University School of Medicine conducted the study.
They followed 754 people, aged 70 and older, who lived in New Haven, CT, and were not disabled, for more than six years. A total of 15% had a nursing home admission. Among this group, 59 participants, or about 52%, experienced at least one episode of persistent bathing disability.
Bathing is the most common activity of daily living problem among facility residents.