Transfer from a Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care Program to a Nursing Home: The Ohio Experience

Home and community-based care programs have been growing due to the preferences of elderly clients to remain in their homes. This study examines factors associated with the transfer of the elderly from a home or community-based long-term care program to a nursing home. Data were collected from four suburban counties administered by an agency in the Ohio pre-admission screening system providing options and resources today program. Approximately 14% of participants disenrolled from the program and moved to a nursing home during the study period. Median and mean durations in the program were 7.9 and 8.2 months, respectively. Using the Cox proportional hazard model, we identified age, pre-enrolment nursing home experience, hospital episodes and the need for transportation assistance as important predictors. The program should pay close attention to clients experiencing hospital episodes and the provision of needed services, such as transportation, in order to delay program disenrollment of the elderly.