The Czech-Austrian Long-Term Care Research Database.

The World’s population is rapidly aging. Age associated illnesses are also increasing the demand of care and institutional Long term Care. Therefore, the organization of institutional Long Term Care (iLTC) is one of the major challenges of our times in all countries around the world. There is a serious paucity of basic research data available in Austria and the Czech Republic making informed decision making difficult. It is estimated that for example only about 30% of persons affected by dementia do receive a medical diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Research question: This project aims at addressing 4 domains of interest with quantitative and qualitative research methods. (1)Resident related parameters such as dementia and other health conditions, and social parameters; (2) Care team parameters such as burden; (3) Parameters related to the relatives of the resident and (4) Environmental Factors of the LTC institutions (size, staffing). Innovation: The two research groups join in their expertise of medical and psychological knowledge, develop a common study protocol and join a common data base. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, about 5 nursing homes will be randomly selected in a stratified selection process from the three categories of nursing homes in Austria and the Czech Republic each. About 500 persons living in iLTC will be assessed in each country (Total N about 1000 study subjects) on an agreed upon common study protocol containing medical and social study parameters. The data will be entered into a common data base and commonly analysed.