Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2015
Journal/Book/Conference Title
American Journal of Public Health
Volume
105
Issue
7
DOI of Original Publication
10.2105/AJPH.2015.302573
Date of Submission
December 2015
Abstract
Objectives
We investigated the epidemiology of suicide among adults aged 50 years and older in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and whether anticipating transitioning into long-term care (LTC) is a risk factor for suicide.
Methods
Data come from the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System (2003–2011). We matched locations of suicides (n = 3453) against publicly available resource registries of nursing homes (n = 285) and assisted living facilities (n = 548). We examined individual and organizational correlates of suicide by logistic regression. We identified decedents anticipating entry into LTC through qualitative text analysis.
Results
Incidence of suicide was 14.16 per 100 000 in nursing homes and 15.66 in the community. Better performance on Nursing Home Compare quality metrics was associated with higher odds of suicide in nursing homes (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21, 3.14). Larger facility size was associated with higher suicide risk in assisted living facilities (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.01). Text narratives identified 38 decedents anticipating transitioning into LTC and 16 whose loved one recently transitioned or resided in LTC.
Conclusions
LTC may be an important point of engagement in suicide prevention.
Rights
Copyright notice and Disclaimer Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the “Reprints” link.
Is Part Of
VCU Family Medicine and Population Health Publications
Table A. Comparison of suicide decedents in long-term care versus community settings: Virginia 2003 – 2011. Table B. Comparison of suicide decedents in nursing homes versus assisted living facilities: Virginia 2003 – 2011.
Comments
Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302573