Determinants of nursing home discharge status.

Data from the 1977 National Nursing Home Survey show that more than one fourth of admissions are discharged back to the community. Weighted logistical regression analysis was used to assess the impacts of patient, facility, and contextual characteristics on discharge status. The important exception is the proportion of the home's patients supported publicly, especially by Medicaid. Patients in homes that are heavily Medicaid supported have a significantly reduced chance of community discharge. Profit versus nonprofit status of the facility does not prove to be significant, nor does chain membership. Important patient characteristics are marital status, age, diagnosis, physical dependency, mental disorders, and source of payment for charges. Climate is significant, while occupancy rate is not.