A randomised controlled trial of long stay nursing home and geriatric ward care for the elderly. A summary of main findings.

This paper reports outcome data on mental and physical ability levels, mortality and accidents rates, from a randomised controlled trial evaluating health authority funded nursing home and long stay geriatric ward care in one inner London health district. There were no differences between settings in relation to mortality rates, although respondents randomised to the nursing homes deteriorated more rapidly in overall and functional ability levels; they also experienced a higher accident rate than respondents in the wards. This has to be balanced against the previously published observational data from the evaluation which clearly indicated that quality of life in the homes was superior to that in the wards. There was more occupational therapy input into the wards in comparison with the homes, and activities were promoted most in the patient's Club in the hospital setting. Although quality of life was superior in the homes in relation to flexibility and preservation of resident's dignity.