The underdetection of cognitive impairment in nursing homes in the Dublin area. The need for on-going cognitive assessment

摘要

SIR—Cognitive impairment (CI) or dementia may now be anmajor concern of Irish nursing homes (NHs) [1]. In thenUSA and Europe, between one-half and two-thirds of NHnresidents are said to have dementia [2–8]. Whilst one shouldnexercise caution in comparing NH populations in differentncountries, due to large differences existing between facilities,nin general private [9], smaller [3] and urban facilities [3] havenbeen shown to have a higher prevalence of residents withndementia.