Patterns of Suicidal Behavior in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Preliminary Report on an Ongoing Study

The prevention of suicide and other forms of self-destructive behavior among elderly residents of institutions is a major consideration because of its importance from humanitarian, professional, and legal points of view. One major aim of this study is to determine the extent and nature of overt suicide, attempted suicide, and intentional life-threatening behavior (ILTB) in long-term care facilities and to identify differences in patterns of suicidal behavior by gender, age, and race. A random sample of 1080 institutions was chosen from the National Master Facility Inventory obtained from the Long-Term Care Statistics Branch of the National Center for Health Statistics. A written questionnaire containing items on facility characteristics, staff and residents, and number of overt suicides, attempted suicides, incidents of ILTB, and deaths from ILTB was mailed to administrators of facilities. Questionnaires were received from administrators in 463 facilities across the country. Chi-square techniques allowed us to determine differences in types of suicidal behavior and whether or not death was likely to result from suicidal behavior by gender, age, and race. Men and women differed from each other in terms of the method chosen. The young-old, old-old, and those under sixty differed on type of suicidal behavior, as well as on likelihood of death from participation in suicidal behaviors.