A new analysis of trends in New York nursing home care reads like a summary of what is happening around the country. In short: more shorter stays for residents, as well as more sicker or cognitively impaired residents.
Ten-year trends for New York’s nursing homes (1996 to 2005) showed that, despite lower average occupancy rates (from 96.9% down to 93.2%), the annual number of nursing home admissions per bed more than doubled (0.78 to 1.76).
Also, the number of residents staying less than two months tripled, according to the report, which was released Tuesday by the United Hospital Fund released.
“The trends do not appear to be showing signs of slowing,” said James R. Tallon, Jr., president of the United Hospital Fund.
Professor Thomas Dennison of the Center for Policy Research at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs wrote the report for the Medicaid Institute at United Hospital Fund.
