Patterns of nursing home use in a prepaid managed care system: the continuing care retirement community.

The use of nursing home services among 3,316 residents of six continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) was compared with that of the general elderly population. CCRC residents have a greater lifetime risk of nursing home entry and repeat entries. CCRC resident's length of stay per admission, however, is shorter. Findings from this comparative analysis provided insight into nursing home use in an insured and managed long term care program for a closed population.