Use, Cost, and Economic Burden of Nursing Home Care in 1985

摘要

The study uses the 1985 National Nursing Home Survey to examine the use and cost of nursing home care among the elderly population of the United States. The following questions are addressed: How many persons age 65 and older use nursing homes in a given year. How do they stay and what are their annual charges. How often, and, to what extent, do residents 'spend down' to Medicaid. How much of the annual charges are paid by the various payers; in particular, what are annual out-of-pocket costs. The study found that approximately 2.1 million persons aged 65 and older (7.5% of the United States elderly population) spent some time in a nursing home during 1985. Over 70% were women and nearly two-thirds were single, widowed or divorced women. Mean charges per nursing home user in 1985 were $9,600 and median charges were $8,278.