Alzheimer's Centers in US Hospitals: Enough to Adequately Address Dementia Care Nationwide?

Ángela Gutiérrez; Cory E Cronin; Berkeley Franz; Graciela Muniz-Terrera

doi:10.1177/08982643231200691

Alzheimer's Centers in US Hospitals: Enough to Adequately Address Dementia Care Nationwide?

J Aging Health. 2023 Sep 12:8982643231200691. doi: 10.1177/08982643231200691. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ángela Gutiérrez¹, Cory E Cronin², Berkeley Franz¹, Graciela Muniz-Terrera¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens OH, USA.
² College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens OH, USA.

PMID: 37699204
DOI: 10.1177/08982643231200691

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the availability of Alzheimer's Centers (ACs) in US hospitals.

Methods: Utilizing the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, Area Health Resource File, and US Census (n = 3251), we employed multivariable logistic regression to examine hospital, county, and regional predictors of AC availability.

Results: Large hospitals (>399 beds) had approximately 14 times higher odds of having an AC than small hospitals (<50 beds; OR = 14.0; 95% CI = 6.44 - 30.46). Counties with a higher proportion of Latino residents, relative to non-Latino Whites, had lower odds of having an AC (OR = .05; 95% CI = .01 - .41). Northeastern (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.15 - 3.22) and Midwestern (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.34 - 3.37) hospitals had higher odds of having an AC than Southern hospitals.

Discussion: To address dementia needs and disparities, investment in a national infrastructure is critical.

Keywords: Hispanic health; dementia; environment; ethnicity; health services.