Analyses of nursing home residents with Parkinson's disease using the minimum data set.

This study profiles over 79,000 nursing home residents with Parkinson's disease (PD) at admission using the 'minimum data set'. Results show that residents with PD averaged 79.7 years of age at admission and 48.4% were male. They tended to be physically dependent, as well as cognitively impaired. More than one in three had fallen in the prior 30 days. There was a high prevalence of dementia and depression. Ninety percent of these residents did not receive active or passive range of motion care and less than 10% had been recently evaluated by a licensed mental health specialist. To enhance the quality of life for nursing home residents with PD, appropriate and adequate rehabilitative, mental health, and cognitive care need to be implemented.