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Activation of 574 new Alzheimer’s special care unit beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan
Ben Castelli, E Centurione, A F Marino, L Garau, R Cofano, Andrea Ferrara, C Pannese, Aubrey R. Raimondi et al.. European Journal of Public Health, 2020-09-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Abstract Issue Dementia is among the main causes of disability and dependency in the elderly. It was defined a public health priority by the WHO. The health and social-care system of the Lombardy region (SSR) plays a key role in implementing assistance and care pathways specifically designed for fragile populations, including those affected by dementia and Alzheimer's disease, its most common form. Description of the Problem The SSR provides residential care options especially conceived for dementia patients, known as Alzheimer's special care units (ASCU). However, waiting lists are concerning, and distribution of these facilities is inconsistent throughout the region. In 2018 there were 981 accredited and SSR-covered ASCU beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan (MCM), translating in 1.26 beds/1000 people aged ≥ 65. With regional legislation (DGR 1046/2018), the SSR proposed activation of new ASCU beds in all territories with less than 2 beds/1000 people aged ≥ 65. The MCM Agency for Health Protection (ATS) thus analyzed the distribution of ASCU beds in afferent districts, defining specific needs for each district. The aim was to fund and activate 574 new ASCU beds homogenously among previously accredited and SSR-covered residential care facilities, reaching the targeted 2 ASCU beds/1000 people aged ≥ 65. Applicant facilities had to respond to specific personnel, technological, therapeutic and structural requirements. Results Preliminary results indicate 29 residential care facilities applied for evaluation in 2019. The ATS received and evaluated all applications. Following site-inspection, 8 facilities were deemed inappropriate. Lessons In 2019, 21 residential care facilities were approved for funding and activation of 558 new ASCU beds. Residual beds will be funded in 2020. Main messages: Activation of new ASCU beds in 2019 and 2020 increased specialized long-term care beds for dementia patients by almost 60%, allowing a more homogenous distribution among MCM districts. Key messages The health and social-care system of the Lombardy region proposed activation of new Alzheimer’s special care units beds in all territories with less than 2 beds/1000 people aged ≥ 65. Activation of 574 new Alzheimer’s special care units beds increased by almost 60%, allowing a more homogenous distribution among Metropolitan City of Milan districts.
Key findings
- Results Preliminary results indicate 29 residential care facilities applied for evaluation in 2019.
Why it matters
This report describes a plan to activate 574 new Alzheimer's special care unit beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan to reach a target of 2 beds per 1000 people aged 65 and older. Preliminary results show that 29 residential care facilities applied for evaluation in 2019.
Study details
- Participants1,000
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 30/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 29 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 30 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European Journal of Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | European Journal of Public Health: journal h-index 147 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,000 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author N R Da Re holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Milan: institution h-index 1,023 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 29 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 29 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 30 out of 100. |
| Total | 30 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Castelli, B., Centurione, E., Marino, A. F., Garau, L., Cofano, R., Ferrara, A., et al. (2020). Activation of 574 new Alzheimer’s special care unit beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan. European Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1221
Vancouver
Castelli B, Centurione E, Marino AF, Garau L, Cofano R, Ferrara A, et al. Activation of 574 new Alzheimer’s special care unit beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan. European Journal of Public Health. 2020. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1221.
BibTeX
@article{castelli2020-708f5019,
author = {Castelli, Ben and Centurione, E and Marino, A F and Garau, L and Cofano, R and Ferrara, Andrea and Pannese, C and Raimondi, Aubrey R. and others},
title = {{Activation of 574 new Alzheimer’s special care unit beds in the Metropolitan City of Milan}},
journal = {European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1221},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1221}
}
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