The authors aimed to increase knowledge about factors affecting discharge destinations of Medicare patients leaving the hospital after receiving discharge planning services. Medical, social, financial, and demographic factors were tested in relation to three dispositions (home, nursing home, and rehabilitation unit) and polytomous logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of going to one destination versus another.

“The only demographic variable with a significant relationship to destination was race, with black patients less likely to enter nursing home settings.”

“Given that the study measured financial status directly (e.g. Medicaid and private pay), the effect of race can be interpreted as distinct from socioeconomic factors. These findings add to the literature suggesting an avoidance of nursing home care among black families. Their preferences for home care may be supported by the existence of extended kin networks. However, these findings that race was not significant in the rehabilitation versus home model suggests that blacks do not similarly avoid rehabilitation units.”