Cross-Sectional Survey of Residential and Nursing Homes for Elderly People. Comparisons of residents in residential and nursing homes for elderly people, 1981-1996

<p>This paper compares the characteristics of elderly people living in residential and nursing homes over the period 1981-1996. The paper draws on information collected in four surveys: a 1981 survey of local authority, private and voluntary residential homes; a 1986 survey of private and voluntary residential and nursing homes; a 1988 survey of local authority residential homes; and a 1996 survey of local authority, private and voluntary residential homes, and private and voluntary nursing homes.

<p><p><p>The distributions of length of stay for permanent residents in local authority and voluntary residential homes and nursing homes in 1996 were similar to those in 1986/88. Mean lengths of stay for voluntary residential homes and nursing homes were slightly shorter in 1996 than in 1986, whereas the reverse appears to be the case for local authority homes. However, the mean length of stay of permanent residents in private residential homes was substantially longer in 1996 than in 1986. In terms of their length of stay, permanent residents in private residential homes resembled those in local authority homes in 1996.

<p><p><p>In 1996, residents in nursing homes were most likely to have been admitted from hospital and residents in residential homes were most likely to have been living alone prior to admission, particularly in voluntary residential homes. Residents in private residential homes were more likely to have been admitted from hospital than residents in local authority and voluntary residential homes. A larger proportion of residents in voluntary residential homes and nursing homes had been admitted from hospital in 1996 than in 1986, whereas the proportion had decreased for private residential homes and, to a greater extent, for local authority homes.

<p><p><p>In 1996, residents in nursing homes were substantially more dependent than residents in residential homes, whereas levels of dependency among residents of local authority, private and voluntary residential homes were quite similar. Prior to 1996, residents in voluntary residential homes were less dependent than residents in local authority and private residential homes. Levels of dependency increased in all types of home between 1986/88 and 1996, but the changes were greater for voluntary residential homes and nursing homes, although levels of dependency among residents of nursing homes were also greater than in local authority and private residential homes in 1986/88. In 1981, residents in local authority and private residential homes had similar levels of physical functioning and were much more dependent than residents in voluntary residential homes. Between 1981 and 1986/88 levels of dependency among residents of local authority and voluntary residential homes increased, but levels of dependency among residents of private residential homes were very similar in 1981 and 1986.