New evidence of racial differences in access and their effects on the use of nursing homes among older adults.

TitleNew evidence of racial differences in access and their effects on the use of nursing homes among older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsAkamigbo, AB, Wolinsky, FD
JournalMed Care
Volume45
Issue7
Pagination672-9
Date Published2007 Jul
ISSN Number0025-7079
KeywordsAged, Assisted Living Facilities, Attitude to Health, Black or African American, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Health Status, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Male, Nursing homes, Socioeconomic factors, Time Factors, White People
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Historical disparities in rates of nursing home placement between blacks and whites have been well documented, and are thought to result from more extensive and supportive social networks, cultural aversion, and poorer geographic access among African Americans. A few recent studies, however, suggest that these racial disparities may no longer exist. We used comprehensive data to assess whether racial differences in nursing home placement remain, and if so, to identify the reasons for them.

METHODS: Data on 6242 black and white self-respondents to the Survey of Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old cohort who were 70 years old or older at baseline (1993) were used. Placement status was ascertained at each biennial follow-up through 2004, and discrete-time hazards models were estimated.

RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline covariates, it was found that blacks were 26% (lambda = 0.74, P < 0.001) less likely to use a nursing home over an 11-year period than whites. Moreover, the supply of skilled nursing beds was more salient for nursing home placement for blacks than whites, as was the increasing supply of assisted living beds.

CONCLUSIONS: The racial gap in nursing home placement remains, despite the increased supply of nursing home beds and the emergence of assisted living facilities as the preferred alternative. As the supply of skilled nursing beds increases, in part due to whites choosing assisted living facilities, the racial gap in the risks of nursing home placement may be lessening. Blacks, however, remain less likely to be placed in a nursing home than whites.

DOI10.1097/MLR.0b013e3180455677
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17571016?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalMed Care
Citation Key7144
PubMed ID17571016
Grant ListF31 AG 024674 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG 022913 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States