RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN ADL DISABILITY AFTER HOSPITALIZATION AMONG OLDER HOME CARE RECIPIENTS

Older adults who experience new or worsening difficulties performing activities of daily living (ADL) after hospitalization have poorer prognoses within a year after discharge. Past research suggests racial/ethnic disparities exist in the development and progression of ADL disability. However, little research exists examining ADL disability disparities among racially/ethnically diverse older adults after hospitalization. Understanding differences in ADL disability across racial/ethnic groups may lead to targeted interventions reducing disparities and promoting ADL performance. This study’s purpose was to determine if differences exist in ADL disability trajectories among racially/ethnically diverse adults age 65 years and older receiving home care following hospitalization. We used 2013–2014 Outcome and Assessment Information Set data (n=21,473) from a large non-profit home care agency to examine overall change in ADL disability, which was measured by summing the difference of admission and discharge scores from nine individual ADL. Associations between race/ethnic groups and overall ADL change scores were examined using general linear regression models, adjusting for personal, environmental, and health-related factors from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. On home care admission, Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanics had poorer individual ADL scores compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (all p