Characteristics of Mexican American Elders Admitted to Nursing Facilities in the United States: Data from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) Study

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to describe the factors associated with Mexican American elders in the Southwestern United States who have spent time in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) compared with those who have not. Design: Data were collected on the Mexican American elders who reported an SNF stay within 10 years of baseline. Participants: A probability sample of 3050 Mexican American elders from five Southwestern states followed from 1993 to 2005 were examined. Measures: Variables examined included sociodemographics, language of interview, disabilities with instrumental activities of daily living, activities of daily living, self-reported health, cognitive status, and depression. Results: A total of 78 (3.9%) of 2020 subjects resided in SNFs. Using univariate analyses, older age, English-language interview, poorer cognitive status, and functional disabilities were independently associated with SNF admissions. Logistic regression analyses controlling for age revealed that SNF patients were older (OR = 1.08, P = .001), had an activities of daily living disability (OR = 4.94, P < .001), scored in the depressed range in the Geriatric Depression Scale (OR = 2.72, P = .001), and were more likely to interview in English (OR = 1.95, P = .042), when compared with community counterparts. Conclusions: Mexican American elders who resided in an SNF at some point in the previous 10 years were older, and were more likely to be functionally impaired. They also were more likely to prefer English as their primary language, indicating they were more likely to agree to an SNF stay than their Spanish-speaking counterparts.