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Racial Differences in Patterns of Use of Rehabilitation Services for Adults Aged 65 and Older
Author(s) -
Keeney Tamra,
Jette Alan M.,
Freedman Vicki A.,
Cabral Howard
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.15136
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , gerontology , physical therapy
Objectives To examine racial differences in the use of rehabilitation services and functional improvement during receipt of services. Design Secondary analysis of the 2016 National Health and Aging Trends Study ( NHATS ). Setting Standardized in‐person home interviews. Participants Community‐dwelling Medicare enrollees (N = 6,309), 1,276 of whom reported receiving rehabilitation services in the previous 12 months. Measurements Self‐reported use of rehabilitation services, setting (inpatient, outpatient, home based), reason for use, and perceptions of change in functioning after receiving services. Results Controlling for sex, dual eligibility for Medicaid, age, number of chronic conditions, functional mobility at the prior round, income, and geographic region, the odds of receiving rehabilitation services in any setting was 1.38 times as great in whites as in blacks (95% confidence interval = 1.09–1.75). Of those receiving therapy, whites were more likely to receive home‐based and inpatient rehabilitation services, but there were no racial differences in improvement in function. Conclusion Strategies are needed to identify possible barriers to use of rehabilitation services for vulnerable groups of aging individuals who need rehabilitation services, particularly older blacks.