Targeting Residents for Transitions from Nursing Home to Community

OBJECTIVE: To analyze nursing home utilization patterns in order to identify potential targeting criteria for transitioning residents back to the community. DATA SOURCES: Secondary data from minimum data set (MDS) assessments for an annual cohort of first-time admissions (N=24,648) to all Minnesota nursing homes (N=394) from July 2005 to June 2006. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a longitudinal analysis from admission to 365 days. Major MDS variables were discharge status; resident's preference and support for community discharge; gender, age, and marital status; pay source; major diagnoses; cognitive impairment or dementia; activities of daily living; and continence. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: At 90 days the majority of residents showed a preference or support for community discharge (64 percent). Many had health and functional conditions predictive of community discharge (40 percent) or low-care requirements (20 percent). A supportive facility context, for example, emphasis on postacute care and consumer choice, increased transition rates. CONCLUSIONS: A community discharge intervention could be targeted to residents at 90 days after nursing home admission when short-stay residents are at risk of becoming long-stay residents.