Satisfaction with Care among Elderly African American and White Residents of Adult Care Facilities

Abstract

Satisfaction with long-term care has received the attention of academics, policymakers, and the general public. However, little attention has been paid to ethnic differences in satisfaction, despite the increasing proliferation of long-term care options and minority representation in such facilities. The authors find that ethnic differences exist in satisfaction with adult care homes. Dependency, satisfaction with health, resident involvement in placement decisions, home type, and percentage of private rooms vary in their impact on satisfaction by ethnicity. Predictors of satisfaction within groups are primarily intra/interpersonal versus organizational characteristics. African Americans are more affected than Whites by organizational factors. Different predictors of satisfaction by ethnicity may indicate that elders bring different life experiences, cultural beliefs, and expectations with regard to long-term care that may influence their degree of satisfaction. Service delivery in long-term care institutions should be aware of the unique experiences of their residents and implement services to ensure optimal satisfaction and care.