Abstract

This study aims to examine racial differences on health, medical and functional characteristics of residents of nursing homes, as well as their satisfaction with nursing home care and the satisfaction of family informants. Data were collected from a random general population survey of individuals with a relative in Michigan nursing homes. White family informants were more satisfied than black family informants with the care their family member was receiving. Number of activities of daily living that could be performed was not related to race, with the exception of eating, where a higher percentage of more whites could perform this ADL. There were no racial differences on health problems, except for Alzheimer’s disease, which was reported for a higher percentage of blacks than whites. Satisfaction of white nursing home residents, as reported by family informants, was negatively correlated with number of ADLs that could be performed, and with number of health problems. It was also correlated with the satisfaction of the informant. Satisfaction of black nursing home residents, as reported by family informants, was not correlated with number of health problems or number of ADLs that could be performed. It was correlated with the satisfaction of the informant.