Authors' recommendations: Overall, the evidence upon which to base decisions about the adoption of the EA or GH concept is limited. One study demonstrated that the GH concept had a positive impact on quality of life and satisfaction with care in residents of long-term care facilities, with the quality of care being comparable to the traditional nursing home model. A study of the EA demonstrated lower levels of boredom and helplessness with this model of care compared to the traditional nursing home model. However, another study that looked at functional status, infection rate, and cost of care outcomes found no differences between the EA and traditional model of long-term care. These results should be interpreted with a degree of caution, however, given the limitations of the studies. No studies of cost-effectiveness were identified, but one study did find that the cost of care with the EA did not differ from the traditional nursing home model. No evidence-based guidelines regarding the EA or GH concept were identified, so no conclusions can be made in this regard. The lack of evidence and the limitations in the identified studies may be a consideration for decision making about the use of the EA or GH concept for residents of long-term care facilities.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/L0166_Eden_Alternative_Concept_final.pdf

Year Published: 2010

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)