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Social Support, Home Health Service Use, and Outcomes Among Four Racial–Ethnic Groups

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Timothy R. Peng, PhD, Center for Home Care Policy and Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, 5 Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001. E-mail: tpeng{at}vnsny.org

Purpose: This study explored similarities and differences in social support, home health service utilization, and health outcomes across four racial–ethnic groups of elders. Design and Methods: 1999 Outcomes Assessment Information Set records for 7,374 home care recipients who were 75 years of age or older and who were discharged to self-care were selected for bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Similar levels of skilled service utilization were observed across racial or ethnic groups. Disparities were found in supportive assistance and physical and mental health outcomes. At discharge to self-care, more Black elders had no supportive assistance compared with all other groups; fewer Hispanics and Asians had improved physical functioning compared with Black and White elders. More White elders reported anxiety and depressive symptoms than any other racial or ethnic group. Implications: The findings suggest that racial–ethnic minorities and White elders may have differential needs for mental health and supportive services at discharge from home health care.

Key Words: Home health care utilization • Race • Ethnicity • Disparities • Home- and community-based services