A comparison of home care clients and nursing home residents: can community based care keep the elderly and disabled at home?
Admission cohorts from the Michigan Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver program and Ohio nursing homes were compared on measures of resource utilization including a modified Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-III) system, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and overall case mix. We found that, contrary to previous research, the two samples were remarkably similar across RUG-III categories. However, the nursing home sample was more functionally impaired on measures of ADL functioning and overall case mix. Results of this study may inform policymakers and providers of the potential for maintaining the appropriate population in the home with government-funded home care.
Shugarman
L R
LR
School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. lshugar@umich.edu
Fries
B E
BE
James
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards