Gender Differences in Institutional Long-Term Care Transitions.

TitleGender Differences in Institutional Long-Term Care Transitions.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMudrazija, S, Thomeer, MBeth, Angel, JL
JournalWomens Health Issues
Volume25
Issue5
Pagination441-9
Date Published2015 Sep-Oct
ISSN Number1878-4321
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Continuity of Patient Care, Family Characteristics, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Home Care Services, Humans, Length of Stay, Logistic Models, Long-term Care, Male, Marital Status, Middle Aged, Nursing homes, Patient Discharge, Residence Characteristics, Sex Characteristics, United States
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the relationship between gender, the likelihood of discharge from institutional long-term care (LTC) facilities, and post-discharge living arrangements, highlighting sociodemographic, health, socioeconomic, and family characteristics.

METHODS: We use the Health and Retirement Study to examine individuals age 65 and older admitted to LTC facilities between 2000 and 2010 (n = 3,351). We examine discharge patterns using survival analyses that account for the competing risk of death and estimate the probabilities of post-discharge living arrangements using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Women are more likely than men to be discharged from LTC facilities during the first year of stay. Women are more likely to live alone or with kin after discharge, whereas men are more likely to live with a spouse or transfer to another institution. Gender differences in the availability and use of family support may partly account for the gender disparity of LTC discharge and post-discharge living arrangements.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that women and men follow distinct pathways after LTC discharge. As local and federal efforts begin to place more emphasis on the transition from LTC facilities to prior communities (e.g., transitional care initiatives under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), policymakers should take these gender differences into account in the design of community transition programs.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049386715000638
DOI10.1016/j.whi.2015.04.010
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26123639?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Long Term Care/discharge likelihood/discharge planning/sociodemographic differences/sociodemographic differences/LTC discharge

Endnote ID

999999

Alternate JournalWomens Health Issues
Citation Key8233
PubMed ID26123639
PubMed Central IDPMC4569522
Grant ListR01 MD005894 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States
1 R01 MD005894-01 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States