Among patients over 75 years, little is known about functional decline due to COVID-19. The aim of this study was to explore this functional decline, compare to other infectious pneumonia.
This case-control study included all COVID-19 patients hospitalized from March to December 2020 in Acute Geriatric Ward in Nantes University Hospital matched 1/1 with patients with pneumonia hospitalized in geriatric department between March 2017 and March 2019 (controls) on sex, age. Functional decline was assessed at 3 month follow up as it is routinely done after hospitalization in geriatric ward. We performed multivariable analyses to compare clinical outcomes between patients with COVID-19 vs controls.
132 pairs were matched on age (mean: 87 y-o), and sex (61% of women). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, there were no statistical significant association between COVID-19 infection and functional decline (OR=0.89 p=0.72). A statistical significant association was found between functional decline and Charlson comorbidity index (OR=1.17, p=0.039); prior fall (OR=2.08, p=0.012); malnutrition (OR=1.97, p=0.018); length of hospital stay (OR=1.05, p=0.002) and preadmission ADL(OR=1.25, p=0.049).
COVID-19 does not seem to be responsible for a more frequent or severe functional decline than other infectious pneumonia in older and comorbid population after 3 month follow up. In this population, pneumonia is associated with functional decline in almost 1 in 2 cases. The individual preadmission frailty seems to be a more important predictor of functional decline, encouraging multidimensional care management for this population.

The safe provision of medicines administration is a fundamental challenge faced in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Many residents of LTCFs are frail older persons with multiple morbidities, and in addition to polypharmacy, are particularly at risk of harm due to concomitant disease and disability. One potential method to optimise medication safety and facilitate medicines administration within LTCFs is the introduction of technology.
This paper explores the barriers to long-term sustainability concerning the use of an electronic administration system (eMAR) in LTCFs.
Fifteen in depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with LTCF staff (9), eMAR service commissioners (2), members of the implementation team (2) and care home strategy managers (2) across three LTCF sites. The study participants were purposefully sampled and each interview audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Nvivo 11. In addition to interviews, observational notes were taken by the lead researcher from visits to the LCTFs as a form of data collection. The analysis process consisted of a two-stage process of thematic analysis then theoretical mapping.
Barriers identified were split into four main overarching areas: structural, implementation team, system user and operational barriers. The adoption of eMAR within this setting was welcomed by top-level stakeholders, however, LTCF staff displayed concerns over its usability. The lack of co-development and on-going training need highlighted barriers to its sustainability, in addition to risks associated with current legislation. The themes identified throughout the framework highlight challenges faced when exploring the sustainability of eMAR in LTCF.
The use of technology in health care is evolving. Awareness of actors relating to its introduction can have significant impact on success and service sustainability.

BACKGROUND: Hospital occupancy rate by older patients is high, and it will be even higher in the future. Their hospital stay is usually longer, making it important for hospitals to develop structures with the best efficiency possible.
METHODS: Hospital discharges of patients older than 75years with the 15 most frequent Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) in Geriatrics were recorded during a 5-year period in a 1,200-bed hospital. Length of stay was compared between the two acute geriatric units (AGU), one in the general hospital (GH) and another in an affiliate hospital (AH), as well as with the rest of departments.
RESULTS: A total of 14,948 discharged patients were included. Length of stay was 2.9 (25%) days shorter in AGU units than in the rest of departments. Differences were 22% (9.2 vs 11.7days) in 2011, 16% (9.3 vs 11.1days) in 2012, 21% (9.3 vs 11.1days) in 2013, 34% (7.4 vs 11.1days) in 2014, and 25% (8.3 vs 11days) in 2015 in the GH. Differences were 18% (10.4 vs 12.7days) in 2011, 19% (9.5 vs 11.7days) in 2012, 25% (8.8 vs 11.7days) in 2013, 24% (8.8 vs 11.6days) in 2014, and 32% (9 vs 13.1days) in 2015 at the AH, all of them with a P<.05.
CONCLUSIONS: AGU are 25% more efficient than the rest of hospital departments in managing hospital admissions of patients older than 75years.

Many health systems have implemented integrated care as an alternative approach to health care delivery that is more appropriate for patients with complex, long-term needs. The objective of this article was to analyse the implementation of integrated care at a German geriatric hospital and explore whether the use of a \"context-mechanisms-outcomes\"-based model provides insights into when and why beneficial outcomes can be achieved.
We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with health professionals employed at the hospital. The data were qualitatively analysed using a \"context-mechanisms-outcomes\"-based model. Specifically, mechanisms were defined as the different components of the integrated care intervention and categorised according to Wagner\'s Chronic Care Model (CCM). Context was understood as the setting in which the mechanisms are brought into practice and described by the barriers and facilitators encountered in the implementation process. These were categorised according to the six levels of Grol and Wensing\'s Implementation Model (IM): innovation, individual professional, patient, social context, organisational context and economic and political context. Outcomes were defined as the effects triggered by mechanisms and context, and categorised according to the six dimensions of quality of care as defined by the World Health Organization, namely effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility, patient-centeredness, equity and safety.
The integrated care intervention consisted of three main components: a specific reimbursement system (\"early complex geriatric rehabilitation\"), multidisciplinary cooperation, and comprehensive geriatric assessments. The inflexibility of the reimbursement system regarding the obligatory number of treatment sessions contributed to over-, under- and misuse of services. Multidisciplinary cooperation was impeded by a high workload, which contributed to waste in workflows. The comprehensive geriatric assessments were complemented with information provided by family members, which contributed to decreased likelihood of adverse events.
We recommend an increased focus on trying to understand how intervention components interact with context factors and, combined, lead to positive and/or negative outcomes.