Home health services for minorities in urban and rural areas with Alzheimer’s and related dementia

ABSTRACT

Timely access and continuum of care in older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) is critical. This is a retrospective study on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with ADRD diagnosis discharged to home with home health care following an episode of acute hospitalization. Our sample included 262,525 patients. White patients in rural areas have significantly higher odds of delay (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06). Black patients in urban areas (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.12–1.19) and Hispanic patients in urban areas also were more likely to have a delay (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11). Black and Hispanic patients residing in urban areas had a higher likelihood of delay in home healthcare initiation following hospitalization compared to Whites residing in urban areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD)
• home health care
• disparities
• rural and urban locations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research study was supported by National Institute of Health grants: 1R03AG060345-01 and U54MD012388. The funder played no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.