Population (thousands)
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care:155,200 (97.8%)
Users of Community Long-term Care: 3,364 (2.1%)
Residing in Nursing Homes: 138 (0.1%)
Mean Age (years)
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 38
Users of Community Long-term Care: 45
Residing in Nursing Homes: 51
Gender
Female
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 50.8
Users of Community Long-term Care: 57.6
Residing in Nursing Homes: 51.0
Male
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 49.2
Users of Community Long-term Care: 42.4
Residing in Nursing Homes: 49.0
Race
White
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 83.2
Users of Community Long-term Care: 77.0
Residing in Nursing Homes: 76.1
Black
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 12.0
Users of Community Long-term Care: 19.0
Residing in Nursing Homes: 19.2
Other
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 4.9
Users of Community Long-term Care: 4.0
Residing in Nursing Homes: 4.7
Marital Status
Married
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 65.9
Users of Community Long-term Care: 47.3
Residing in Nursing Homes: 16.4
Widowed
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 1.8
Users of Community Long-term Care: 4.8
Residing in Nursing Homes: 10.3
Never married
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 22.0
Users of Community Long-term Care: 29.2
Residing in Nursing Homes: 46.3
Separated/divorced
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 10.2
Users of Community Long-term Care: 18.4
Residing in Nursing Homes: 27.0
Education
Less than 12 years
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 15.3
Users of Community Long-term Care: 34.3
Residing in Nursing Homes: 42.9
12 years
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 37.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 39.4
Residing in Nursing Homes: 23.8
Greater than 12 years
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 46.9
Users of Community Long-term Care: 23.5
Residing in Nursing Homes: 16.9
Missing
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.7
Users of Community Long-term Care: 2.7
Residing in Nursing Homes: 16.4
Poverty
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 10.2
Users of Community Long-term Care: 26.5
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Employment (last 2 weeks)
Working
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 74.9
Users of Community Long-term Care: 18.7
Residing in Nursing Homes: n/a
Not in labor force
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 20.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 75.5
Residing in Nursing Homes: n/a
Unemployed
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 4.9
Users of Community Long-term Care: 5.8
Residing in Nursing Homes: n/a
Level of IADL/ADL Disability1
IADL only
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: n/a
Users of Community Long-term Care: 55.9
Residing in Nursing Homes: 7.7
1-2 ADLs
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: n/a
Users of Community Long-term Care: 26.7
Residing in Nursing Homes: 14.5
3-6 ADLs
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: n/a
Users of Community Long-term Care: 17.4
Residing in Nursing Homes: 75.5
Functional Limitations2
Lower body only
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 5.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 33.3
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Upper body only
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.8
Users of Community Long-term Care: 1.6
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Upper and lower body
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 1.5
Users of Community Long-term Care: 38.1
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Neither
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 92.2
Users of Community Long-term Care: 26.2
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Use Mobility Equipment3
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.8
Users of Community Long-term Care: 25.0
Residing in Nursing Homes: 13.0
Use Wheelchair
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 12.7
Residing in Nursing Homes: 65.2
Problem with Dizziness
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 1.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 14.2
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Difficulty Seeing
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 1.6
Users of Community Long-term Care: 17.4
Residing in Nursing Homes: 30.2
Difficulty Hearing
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 3.5
Users of Community Long-term Care: 11.3
Residing in Nursing Homes: 12.8
Difficulty Communicating
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.3
Users of Community Long-term Care: 11.6
Residing in Nursing Homes: 16.6
Difficulty Understanding Others
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.4
Users of Community Long-term Care: 9.8
Residing in Nursing Homes: 12.0
Mental Retardation
Nonusers of Community Long-term Care: 0.1
Users of Community Long-term Care: 11.6
Residing in Nursing Homes: —
Source: Information on users and nonusers of community long-term care is from the 1994 Disability Supplement to that National Health Interview Survey. Information on LTC users in nursing homes is from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Nursing Home Component.
Note: Entries in table are column percent ages; for dichotomous items the reference group is not shown. Missing data are only indicated if greater than 2% of cases.
1 Note: IADL = Instrumental activities of daily living; ADL = Activities of daily living.
2 Lower body limitations include difficulties lifting 10 pounds, walking up 10 steps, walking a quarter of a mile, standing for about 20 minutes, and bending down to pick up object from floor. Upper body limitations include difficulties reaching over head or to shake a hand, grasping an object, or holding a pen or pencil.
3 Mobility equipment includes canes, walkers, and crutches.