Variations in Nursing Home Discharge Rates for Urban and Rural Nursing Facility Residents with Hip Fracture.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Keywords

Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cohort Studies, Demography, Female, Health Services Research, Health Status, Hip Fractures, Humans, Length of Stay, Maine, Male, Nursing Homes, Patient Discharge, Rural Population, Socioeconomic Factors, Urban Population, Utilization Review, Cutler Institute, Population Health and Health Policy, USM Aging Initiative, Health and Wellness

Publication Title

The Journal of Rural Health

Abstract

CONTEXT: The more limited availability and use of community-based long-term care services in rural areas may be a factor in higher rates of nursing home use among rural residents.

PURPOSE: This study examined differences in the rates of nursing home discharge for older adults receiving posthospital care in a nursing facility.

METHODS: The study sample was comprised of a cohort of rural and urban residents newly admitted to nursing home care in Maine following surgery for hip fracture.

FINDINGS: The results indicated that rural residents who were hospitalized for hip fracture and subsequently admitted to a nursing facility for rehabilitation were significantly less likely than urban residents to be discharged within the first 30 days of their admission. Rural residents who stayed in the nursing facility beyond 30 days were also less likely to be discharged in the first 6 months. These geographic differences were not explained by service use and resident characteristics such as age, health, or functional status.

CONCLUSIONS: The finding of lower discharge rates among rural nursing facility residents appears to be consistent with previous studies demonstrating higher rates of nursing home use among rural residents. There continues to be a need for a better understanding of the role that service supply and accessibility and other factors play in the patterns and outcomes of rural long-term care.

Comments

The Journal of Rural Health is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.

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