Minority use of community long-term care services: a comparative analysis.

A series of national surveys since 1982 have examined health needs of elders. Small proportions of minority elders in each sample have limited our understanding of service use by minorities. This research sought to determine (1) the extent to which minorities have restricted use of community long-term care services as a result of socioeconomic status, family structure, and health status, and (2) the replicability and validity of results across three national surveys: Supplement on Aging, National Long-Term Care, and National Medical Expenditure. Results indicate no bivariate or multivariate differences between African American, Hispanic, or White frail older persons in use of community long-term services. Living arrangements, Medicaid use, and overall health and functional status were primary predictors of service use. Taking methodological limitations into account, the results suggest similarity in processes influencing use of community long-term care services for African American and White older persons.