Residents with Parkinson's disease in the institutional care A cross-sectional survey of nursing homes in Germany

Background The illness trajectory of Parkinson's disease leads to a higher need for care. Little is known about the prevalence of residents with Parkinson's disease in nursing homes, the care situation and the expertise of nurses in these institutions. Objective This study examined the prevalence rate of residents with Parkinson's disease in nursing homes in Germany. In addition, from the subjective point of view of nurse managers, the work of carers, the coordination as well as information and knowledge of the nursing staff were explored. Method The cross-sectional survey of nurse managers from 500 randomized selected nursing homes in Germany was conducted from January to June 2020. The questionnaire used was developed based on the literature. The data were analyzed descriptively. Results Questionnaires from 85 residential wards in 57 care facilities were analyzed (response rate 11.4%). The prevalence rate of residents with Parkinson's disease was 13.9%. More than a half had a diagnosis of dementia (52.8%). Affected persons received regular treatment and medical consultations. There were no central coordination of care and no specially trained nursing staff. Discussion Residents with Parkinson's disease are a common occurrence and they show complex symptoms and comorbidities. The frequency of falls with hospital stays and the low number of Parkinson-specific assistive technologies showed that the knowledge of nursing staff can be increased. Central coordination and support for this should be established in long-term care.