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Survey description
Data file description
List of data file variables at a glance
Data file technical characteristics
Geographic coverage
Data availability
Ordering information
Documentation contents
Related reports
Contact

Survey description
The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is a continuing series of national sample surveys of nursing homes, their residents, and their staff. Nursing home surveys have been conducted in 1973-74, 1977, 1985, 1995, 1997, and 1999. These surveys were preceded by a series of surveys from 1963 through 1969, called the "resident places" surveys. Although each of these surveys emphasized different topics, they all provided some common basic information about nursing homes, their residents, and their staff.

The most recent NNHS was conducted in 1999. All nursing home facilities included in the survey are freestanding or are nursing care units of hospitals, retirements centers, or similar institutions where the unit maintains financial and resident records separate from those of the larger institutions. They must have at least three beds and either be certified by Medicare or Medicaid or else have a State license to operate as a nursing home.

Data file description
In general, all data from each survey year are contained on one data tape. (For example, the data tape for the 1999 NNHS consists of three files: facility, current resident, and discharges). There are two exceptions to this: the 1985 and 1977 surveys.

For the 1985 survey, all data except the next-of-kin telephone follow-up are contained on one data tape. The 1985 NNHS consists of five files: facility, discharge, expense, resident, and nursing staff. The 1977 survey is actually available in two versions -- national and State. The national version includes only those cases selected in the national sample, and the State version includes only those cases selected for California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. Thus, the record weights on the national files inflate to national estimates on such factors as nursing homes and their residents, whereas the record weights on the State files inflate to State estimates. Both the national and State versions consist of a facility file, discharge file, resident file, and staff file.

Prior to 1995, all data files include a facility number common for all files to allow linkage between them. No link is available starting with the 1995 survey. The data files have been edited to ensure consistency and to adjust for nonresponse.

List of data file variables at a glance
1999
1997
1995
1985
1977
1973-74
1969

Facility file (1999)
Facility number
Ownership code
Member of a chain or group
Number of beds by groups
Unit beds by groups
Number of beds by certification status
Per diem rates by certification status
Admissions (1998)
Services offered to residents
Services offered to nonresidents
Preventative services offered to residents
Resident vaccination program
Number of residents in profound coma
Full-time equivalent employees
Volunteer staff
Basic charges for private pay residents
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode
Facility weight
Bed weight

Resident File (1999)
Resident number
Sex
Current age (at interview) in years
Age at admission in years
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status
Living where before admission
Living with whom before admission
Length of stay re-code in days
Diagnoses at admission and currently
Level of care receiving
Type of aids currently used
Vision and hearing status
Activities of daily living
Instrumental activities of daily living
Continence status
Flu shots and other vaccinations received
Types of services received
Sources of payment at admission and last month
Total charge for care
Daily charge re-code
Current resident weight
Metropolitan Statistical Area re-code (from facility file)
Ownership code (from facility file)
Total number of beds (from facility file)
Certification code (from facility file)

Discharge File (1999)
Resident number
Sex
Date of birth or current age in years
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status
Living where before admission
Living with whom before admission
Length of stay re-code in days
Reason for discharge
Diagnoses at admission and at discharge
Level of care receiving
Type of aids currently used
Vision and hearing status
Activities of daily living
Instrumental activities of daily living
Continence status
Types of services received
Sources of payment at admission and at discharge
Total charge for care
Daily charge re-code
Discharge resident weight
Metropolitan Statistical Area re-code (from facility file)
Ownership code (from facility file)
Total number of beds (from facility file)
Certification code (from facility file)

Facility File (1997)
Facility number
Ownership code
Member of a chain or group
Number of beds by groups
Unit beds by groups
Number of beds by certification status
Per diem rates by certification status
Admissions (1996)
Services offered to residents
Services offered to nonresidents
Resident vaccination program
Percent of residents vaccinated
Number of residents are in profound coma
Dental services available
Full-time equivalent employees
Volunteer staff
Basic charges for private pay residents
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode
Facility weight
Bed weight

Resident File (1997)
Resident number
Sex
Date of birth or current age in years
Date of interview
Date of admission
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status
Living where before admission
Living with whom before admission
Diagnoses at admission and currently
Level of care receiving
Type of aids currently used
Vision and hearing status
Activities of daily living
Instrumental activities of daily living
Continence status
Flu shots and other vaccinations received
Types of services received
Sources of payment at admission and last month
Total charge for care
Daily charge recode
Current resident weight
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode (from facility file)
Ownership code (from facility file)
Total number of beds (from facility file)
Certification code (from facility file)

Discharge File (1997)
Resident number
Sex
Date of birth or age at admission in years
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status
Living where before admission
Living with whom before admission
Reason for discharge
Diagnoses at admission and at discharge
Level of care receiving
Type of aids currently used
Vision and hearing status
Activities of daily living
Instrumental activities of daily living
Continence status
Types of services received
Sources of payment at admission and at discharge
Total charge for care
Daily charge recode
Discharge resident weight
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode (from facility file)
Ownership code (from facility file)
Total number of beds (from facility file)
Certification code (from facility file)

Facility file (1995)
Facility number
Ownership code
Number of beds
Number of residents
Number of beds for cognitively impaired residents
Number of beds by certification status
Per diem rates by certification status
Admission (1994)
Services offered to residents
Percent of residents vaccinated
Number of residents in profound coma
Availability of dentist and dental hygienist services
Full-time equivalent employees
Volunteer staff
Basic charges for private pay residents
Geographic region recode
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode
Facility weight
Bed weight

Resident File (1995)
Resident number
Sex
Date of birth or current age in years
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status
Residence before admission
Date of admission
Date of interview
Diagnoses at admission and currently
Level of care receiving
Type of aids currently used
Vision and hearing status
Dental condition status
Activities of daily living
Instrumental activities of daily living
Continence status
Flu shots and other vaccinations received
Type of service received
Sources of payment at admission and last month
Total monthly charge for care last month
Sources of payment for dental care
Resident weight

Expense file (1995)
Facility number
Expenses and revenues
Expense weight

Facility file (1985)
Facility number
Ownership code
Number of beds (1984 and 1985)
Certification status
Per diem rates by certification status
Admissions (1984)
Resident days (1984)
Services offered to residents
Services offered to nonresidents
Physician service arrangements
Full- and part-time staff
Part-time staff hours
Nursing staff hours
Volunteer staff
Geographic region
Department of Health and Human Services
Administrative regions
Metropolitan Statistical Area recode
Facility weight

Resident file (1985)
Facility number
Age
Sex
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status at admission and currently
Living children
Date of last admission
Residence before admission
Hospital stays while a resident
Previous nursing home stays
Diagnoses at admission and currently
Mental disorders
Therapy services received
Vision and hearing status
Activities of daily living
Adapted instrumental activities of daily living
Behavioral problems
Disorientation or memory impairment
Depression, anxiety, fearfulness, or worry
Sources of payment at admission and last month
Total monthly charge for care last month
Amount paid by source last month
Resident weight

Discharge file (1985)
Facility number
Age at discharge or date of birth
Sex
Race
Hispanic origin
Marital status at admission and at discharge
Date of admission and discharge services performed
Discharge status (alive/dead)
Residence before admission
Residence after discharge for live discharges
Hospital stays while a resident
Nursing home stays before and after sample stay
Diagnoses at admission and at discharge
Mobility status
Continence status
Sources of payment at admission and at discharge
Discharge weight

Nursing staff file (1985)
Resident number
Member of staff or other arrangement
Type of position
Length of work experience
Hours worked
Salary
Employment conditions
Sex and age
Ethnicity
Marital status
Children living at home
Education
Staff weight

Expense file (1985)
Facility number
Expenses and revenues
Expense weight

Facility file (1977)
Facility number
Type of service code
Ownership code
Admissions policy concerning sex and age
Number of beds (1976 and 1977)
Number of residents
Certification status
Reimbursement method by program certification
Original purpose of building
Admissions (1976)
Vacant full- and part-time staff positions
Resident days (1976)
Services provided
Staff coverage of daily shifts
Medical director arrangements
Services to nonresidents
Waiting list data
Expenses and revenues (1976)
Geographic region recode
Department of Health and Human Services
administrative regions
Facility weight
Expense weight

Resident file (1977)
Facility number
Age
Sex
Ethnicity
Marital status
Date of last admission
Residence before admission
Reason for admission
Primary diagnosis at last examination
Conditions or impairments
Aids used
Services received
Medications received
Activities of daily living characteristics
Incidence and frequency of behavior problems
Physician contact
Vision status
Hearing and speaking ability
Recreational activities
Overnight leave
Frequency of visitors
Relationship of visitors
Sources of payment
Total monthly charges for care
Amount paid by primary source
Level of patient care
Resident weight

Discharge file (1977)
Facility number
Age at discharge
Sex
Marital status
Date of admission and discharge
Discharge status (alive/dead)
Residence after discharge for live discharges
Primary diagnosis at admission
Conditions or impairments
Aids used
Services received
Physician contact
Mobility status
Continence status
Sources of payment
Total monthly charges for care
Amount paid by primary source
Level of patient care
Discharge weight

Staff file (1977)
Facility number
Sex and age
Ethnicity
Contract employee indicator
Part-time employee indicator
Occupation code
In charge of shift
Length of work experience
Hours worked
Salary
Additional benefits
Services performed
Education
Staff weight

Facility file (1973-74)
Facility number
Type of service code
Ownership code
Admissions policy by sex and age
Number of beds
Number of residents
Certification status
Original purpose of building
Admissions (1972)
Live discharges (1972)
Dead discharges (1972)
Resident days (1972)
Number of rooms with four beds or more
Services provided
Staff coverage of daily shifts
Staff supervision of clinical services
Services to nonresidents
Waiting list data
Expenses (1972)
Region recode
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)
recode
Facility weights
Expense weights

Resident file (1973-74)
Facility number
Age
Sex
Ethnicity
Marital status
Date of last admission
Residence before admission
Reason for admission
Primary diagnosis at admission and last examination
Conditions or impairments
Aids used
Services received
Medications received
Activities of daily living characteristics
Incidence and frequency of behavior problems
Physician contact
Vision status
Hearing and speaking ability
Recreational activities
Overnight leave
Frequency of visitors
Basic and total monthly charges for care
Sources of payment
Level of patient care
Resident weight

Staff control record (1973-74)
Facility number
Number of employees by job categories
Number of employees sampled by job categories
Staff control weight
Sex
Ethnicity
Contract employee indicator
Part-time employee indicator
Part-time hours
Occupation code

State file (1973-74)
Facility number
Sex
Ethnicity
Contract employee indicator
Part-time employee indicator
Occupation code
In charge of shift
Length of work experience
Hours worked
Salary
Additional benefits
Services performed
Education
Attitudes

Facility file (1969)
Facility number
Number of inpatients (12/31/68)
Number receiving nursing care
Inpatient days of care (1968)
Admissions (1968)
Live discharges (1968)
Place of discharge
Dead discharges (1968)
Number of beds
Number of inpatients last night
Number of inpatients receiving nursing
Total employees
Routine services provided
Contract services provided
Ownership code
Type of service code
Facility weight

Resident file (1969)
Facility number
Ownership code
Type of service code
Age
Sex
Race
Marital status
Date of last admission
Conditions or impairments
Primary and secondary diagnoses
Services received
Aids used
Mobility status
Hearing ability
Vision status
Continence
Monthly charges for care
Sources of payment
Level of patient care
Resident weight

Geographic coverage
The data represent nursing homes, their residents, and their staff in the conterminous United States. Geographic identifiers are also available by the U.S. Bureau of the Census region (most files),  metropolitan statistical area (MSA) indicator (1973-77, 1985, 1995, 1997, and 1999), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) administrative region (1977 and 1985 only).

Data availability
CD-ROMs are available for 1999, 1997, 1995, 1985, 1977, 1973-74, and 1969. Data for 1995 are stored on CD-ROM  with the Statistical Export and Tabulation System (SETS) retrieval software.

Data on CD-ROM-ASCII

Data on CD-ROM - SETS

Documentation contents
Each file contains the necessary documentation, including  content and technical information needed to access the data.  Documentation is available electronically on the CD-ROM.

Related reports
Summary reports on the 1995 and 1997 NNHS are available in  Series 13, Nos.146 and 147, respectively.  Additional reports are in Advance Data Nos. 280 and 289 (for 1995) and Nos. 311 and 312 (for 1997).  A detailed discussion of previous surveys are available in the Vital and Health Statistics, Series 13, Nos. 97, 98, and 101-105. A similar discussion of the 1977 NNHS tables and copies of the questionnaires are in Series 13, Nos. 43, 48, 51, 53, and 54, and in Series 14, No. 25. Similar information for the 1973-74 NNHS is in Series 13, Nos. 22, 27-29, 32, and 38, and in  Series 14, Nos. 17 and 20. Series 12, Nos. 18-24, have detailed information about the 1969 survey and copies of the questionnaires. Preliminary data are published in the Advance Data  Series.

For additional information check out the following link
NNHS web page