Long-Term Care and Ethnicity

Despite the rapid aging of the population and the tremendous growth in ethnic and racial diversity among the elderly in our society, empirical studies on long-term care needs and service use of minority elders have been lacking. Based on two national datasets, this is the first comprehensive analysis of long-term care needs, patterns, and determinants of in-home, community-based, and nursing home service utilization and informal support among African American and Hispanic elders, as compared to those of their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The authors also compare caregiver burden within the three groups and present recommendations for ethnic-sensitive long-term care policy and practice for minority elders.