As a result of using admission criteria, the characteristics of special care unit (SCU) admissions are generally different from dementia admissions. As part of the National Evaluation of Special Care Units Project, all dementia admissions to a nationwide sample of SCUs and comparable non-SCU nursing facilities were screened during a 13-month recruitment window. Results show that SCU admissions are younger, more likely to be male, admitted from home, admitted under private-pay status, have recorded AD diagnoses, are independently mobile, and have fewer physical health problems. Program and policy implications of these findings are discussed.
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