Published papers

Globally, residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) often experience adverse events (AEs) and corresponding lawsuits that result in suffering among the residents, their families, and the facilities. Hence, we conducted a study to clarify the factors related to the facilities’ liabilities for damages for the AEs that occur at LTCFs in Japan. We analyzed 1,495 AE reports from LTCFs in one Japanese city. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with liability for damages. The independent variables were classified as: residents, organizations, and social factors. In total, 14% of AEs resulted in the facility being liable for damages. The predictors of liability for damages were as follows: for the resident factors, the increased need for care had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.00 and care levels of 2–3; and AOR of 2.48 and care levels of 4–5. The types of injuries, such as bruises, wounds, and fractures, had AORs of 3.16, 2.62, and 2.50, respectively. Regarding the organization factors, the AE time, such as noon or evening, had an AOR of 1.85. If the AE occurred indoors, the AOR was 2.78, and if it occurred during staff care, the AOR was 2.11. For any follow-ups requiring consultation with a doctor, the AOR was 4.70, and for hospitalization, the AOR was 1.76. Regarding the type of LTCF providing medical care in addition to residential care, the AOR was 4.39. Regarding the social factors, the reports filed before 2017 had an AOR of 0.58. The results of the organization factors suggest that liability tends to arise in situations where the residents and their family expect high quality care. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen organizational factors in such situations to avoid AEs and the resulting liability for damages.

Introduction: In long-term care (LTC) facilities, nurses play a key role in detecting changes in residents' health conditions and preventing avoidable emergency transfers and hospitalisations through multidisciplinary collaboration. This study aimed to explore how nurses detect changes that indicate the deterioration in LTC residents' conditions. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 nurses from 14 LTC facilities. Data from these interviews were qualitatively analysed using coding and constant comparison methods. Results: The three main categories were ‘preparing’, ‘assessing’ and ‘judging’. Nurses worked closely with care workers who spent a considerable amount of time with the residents, and by sharing information, the nurses could rapidly respond to changes in the residents' conditions. They also evaluated the risk of residents experiencing changes by leveraging their clinical experience. Conclusion: This study found that LTC nurses should collaborate with care workers to enhance their health assessment skills, enabling them to detect changes in residents' conditions. Findings from this study can be used to promote collaboration between nurses and care workers and to develop effective educational interventions to improve nursing practice in LTC facilities. Implications for Practice: This study underscores the necessity of nurses' ability to identify early deterioration in LTC residents. The findings reveal key symptoms and warning signs that nurses should prioritize in their assessments. By leveraging clinical experience and close observation, nurses can make timely and effective decisions to address residents' health changes, preventing further deterioration and enhancing their quality of life.

Aim: To examine the patterns of the visiting nurse services provided to older adults in a type of residential facility in Japan and to identify associated factors. Methods: This secondary analysis used past survey data from visiting nurse service agencies providing services to older adults in residential facilities with few nurses, known as non-specified facilities in Japan. Approximately 515 cases were used to determine the patterns of visiting nurse services using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression analysis examined the relationships between identified classes, residents' characteristics, facilities, and services provided by visiting nurses. Results: Three service patterns were identified as follows: Class 1, observational and follow-up care (37.1%); Class 2, chronic disease care (35.7%); and Class 3, end-of-life care (27.2%). Class 1 comprised fewer nursing services than the other classes and primarily involved the observation of medical conditions, whereas Classes 2 and 3 involved higher care-need levels and provided diverse nursing care support. Specifically, Class 3 was associated with the inclusion of family (odds ratio: 2.42) and a visiting nurse at the attached facility (odds ratio: 4.88). Conclusions: The three identified classes describe the older residents' healthcare needs. Additionally, the factors associated with the end-of-life care class suggest that older residents with these factors may have difficulty accessing end-of-life care by visiting nurses. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 326–333.