A new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health found racial differences in nursing home residents’ quality of life (QOL). QOL refers to non-medical aspects of residents’ care such as relationships with staff, satisfaction with food, and social engagement.

[Photo: Dr. Tetyana Shippee]

Minority residents reported lower QOL compared to white residents, but much of the difference was due to different health needs of minority residents. The data also showed nursing homes with a higher proportion of minority residents scoring lower on overall quality of life scores compared to facilities that were predominantly white.

The findings were published in the Journal of Aging and Health.

“The study sought to better understand if minority nursing home residents experience lower quality of life than their white counterparts,” said Dr. Tetyana Shippee, lead author and assistant professor in the School of Public Health. “Minnesota is one of two states to have multi-domain, validated measures of quality of life and is also nationally known for excellent nursing home care, so we were surprised there were significant racial differences.”

Historically, nursing home populations have been predominantly white, while minorities relied upon family and social networks for care. Now, minorities are increasingly using nursing home facilities, in part due to fewer financial resources and reliance on Medicaid.

Dr. Shippee believes this trend will continue to grow over time as reflected by the nation’s changing demographics.

Study findings also include:

• On average, minorities in nursing homes were 13 years younger than whites in nursing homes and had higher prevalence of mental illness.
• Nursing homes with high proportion of Medicaid-only patients may have fewer resources to provide adequate staffing and care compared to those who rely on Medicare and private pay, negatively impacting QOL.
• Nursing home facilities serving predominantly non-white residents may lack the capacity to adequately meet minority residents’ non-medical needs. These facilities also tended to be located in poorer communities, where minority individuals are more likely to live.

“With these study findings in mind, it will be important for nursing homes to develop a new plan of action to address differences in program services and staffing issues for minorities in nursing homes,” said Dr. Shippee.