Discordance in Ratings of Symptoms Experienced by Nursing Home Residents With Cognitive Impairment.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Evaluation of palliative care programs in nursing homes often includes symptom assessments. For residents with cognitive impairment, proxy symptom reports, such as those from family members or nursing home staff, may be used as outcome measures.

Objectives

This analysis compares differences between family and staff proxy reports of symptoms of nursing home residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment.

Methods

Data were collected as part of a clinical trial, conducted in 16 nursing homes (NHs) in Indiana and Maryland (U.S.). We calculated the difference in total modified End-of-Life Dementia Comfort Assessment in Dying (EOLD-CAD) scores between family and staff respondents for 194 residents, and quantified characteristics associated with discordance.<

SUBMITTER: Unroe KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12927396 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature