Has the Gender or Racial Composition of Nursing Homes Changed?

Chart on Nursing Home Trends: May 2, 2000

The racial composition of the nursing home population remained unchanged from 1987 to 1996. However, in 1996 there was an increase in the proportion of men. The majority of nursing home residents were women, and the nursing home population remained almost entirely white.

• Women made up approximately two-thirds of the nursing home population in both 1987 (69.7 percent) and 1996 (65.9 percent).
• In both years, approximately 90 percent of nursing home residents were white.

Select to access chart of Nursing Home Residents by Race (PDF File , 12 KB; PDF Help).
Select to access chart of Nursing Home Residents by Gender (PDF File, 13 KB; PDF Help).

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Additional data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey can be accessed online at the MEPS Web site (http://www.meps.ahrq.gov).

For more information, contact the AHRQ Public Affairs Division: Farah Englert, (301) 427-1865 (FEnglert@ahrq.gov).

Internet Citation:

Has the Gender or Racial Composition of Nursing Homes Changed? Chart on Nursing Home Trends, May 2, 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2000/nurshmpr.htm