Categorization of Older Adults in Long-Term Care and Their Prognosis

Recent research has classified older adults in need of long-term care into five subgroups based on physical and cognitive functions, providing insights into their prognosis and informing personalized care strategies.

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Older adults requiring long-term care often present with multiple disabilities, exhibiting a wide range of combinations of physical and cognitive impairments. This diversity makes it challenging to design effective interventions targeting only a single impairment. Consequently, understanding the complex spectrum of an older adult’s physical and mental health is crucial for developing personalized care strategies.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association employed advanced machine learning techniques to classify individuals aged 65 and older who initiated long-term care insurance services in Tsukuba and Kashiwa cities in Japan. The classification was based on 74 factors, mainly focusing on physical and cognitive capabilities, gathered through standardized care needs assessments. The research further explored how these classifications relate to prognosis, including risks of death, hospitalization, admission to long-term care facilities, and deterioration of care levels.

Analysis revealed five distinct functional subtypes in Tsukuba City: 1) Mild physical impairment, 2) Mild cognitive impairment, 3) Moderate physical impairment, 4) Moderate multicomponent impairment, and 5) Severe multicomponent impairment. These subtypes were validated with data from Kashiwa City. Prognostically, the severe multicomponent group showed the highest risk of mortality and admission to care facilities; the moderate physical group was more prone to hospitalization; and the moderate multicomponent group frequently experienced worsening of care needs.

Understanding these subtypes aids caregivers and healthcare professionals in tailoring treatment plans and improving resource allocation. The insights from this classification hold promise for enhancing the effectiveness of medical and long-term care services, leading to better health outcomes for the elderly population.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-older-adults-requiring-term-groups.html