Suicide Risk in Long-term Care Facilities: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

Specialties Geriatrics
Psychiatry

Date 2014 May 24

PMID 24854089

Citations 24

Authors

Briana Mezuk

Andrew Rock

Matthew C Lohman

Moon Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Suicide risk is highest in later life; however, little is known about the risk of suicide among older adults in long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes and assisted living facilities). The goal of this paper is to review and synthesize the descriptive and analytic epidemiology of suicide in long-term care settings over the past 25 years.

Methods: Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Web of Knowledge, and EBSCOHost Academic Search Complete) were searched for empirical studies of suicide risk in nursing homes, assisted living, and other residential facilities from 1985 to 2013. Of the 4073 unique research articles identified, 37 were selected for inclusion in this review.

Results: Of the included reports, 21 were cross-sectional, 8 cohort, 3 qualitative, and 5 intervention studies. Most studies indicate that suicidal thoughts (active and passive) are common among residents (prevalence in the past month: 5-33%), although completed suicide is rare. Correlates of suicidal thoughts among long-term care residents include depression, social isolation, loneliness, and functional decline. Most studies examined only individual-level correlates of suicide, although there is suggestive evidence that organizational characteristics (e.g., bed size and staffing) may also be relevant.

Conclusions: Existing research on suicide risk in long-term care facilities is limited but suggests that this is an important issue for clinicians and medical directors to be aware of and address. Research is needed on suicide risk in assisted living and other non-nursing home residential settings, as well as the potential role of organizational characteristics on emotional well-being for residents.

Citing Articles

Burden of psychiatric and somatic comorbidities in individuals with suicidal behavior: a nationwide Danish registry-based, observational study.

Reilev M, Moller J, Stenager E, Christiansen E Eur Psychiatry. 2025; 68(1):e23.

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Study protocol for ELders AT Ease (ELATE): a cluster randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy to reduce depressive symptoms in aged care residents.

Bhar S, Davison T, Schofield P, Quinn S, Ratcliffe J, Waloszek J BMC Geriatr. 2023; 23(1):555.

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Loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural communities: a narrative synthesis systematic review.

Hussain B, Mirza M, Baines R, Burns L, Stevens S, Asthana S Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1113864.

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Understanding Suicide over the Life Course Using Data Science Tools within a Triangulation Framework.

Johns L, Zhong C, Mezuk B J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 2023; 8(1).

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The role of social exclusion in the formation of suicidal ideation among the elderly in rural pension institutions.

Wang P, Gao P, Yu Z Front Psychol. 2022; 13:1019898.

PMID: 36570993 PMC: 9780458. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1019898.

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