Assessing Health and Wellbeing in US Nursing Homes in Relation to Barriers to Care

• In Event: 50425 - People with Disabilities as a Population with Health Disparities (Co-sponsored by Section on Medical Sociology)

Abstract

This research explores how race, age, and gender shape care experiences by linking these to social determinants of health and functional limitations among skilled nursing facility (nursing home) residents. By leveraging data derived from the electronic health records of more than 19 million American nursing home residents, we provide a detailed analysis of how activities of daily living (ADLs) vary across groups with different chronic and acute health conditions. Based on a comparative analysis of ADL outcomes among residents, preliminary findings show significant gender, age, and race differences in how different individuals experience functional limitations and, importantly, improvements over time. Compared to the larger population, nursing home residents face various barriers to care, which may influence their ADL outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of considering the unique characteristics and needs of all residents in nursing homes. Tailored interventions and care plans that address gender, racial, and age-related differences, barriers to care, and the complexity of medication management are crucial for improving outcomes for this population. In addition to studying how experiences differ across, we use a social model of disability framework to examine measures of wellbeing used in care settings to better understand what wellbeing means across a representative sample of nursing home residents in the United States.

Authors

• Brittin Wagner, PointClickCare

• Michelle Lee Maroto, University of Alberta

• David Nicholas Pettinicchio, University of Toronto