Related Experiment Videos
The illusory home, or the 24 percent fallacy
J Retsinas1, L Thompson, P Garrity
1Department of Family Medicine, Brown University, Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket, RI 02860.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Death certificates often fail to list nursing home residence, despite many elderly individuals living there permanently. This study reveals a significant underrepresentation of nursing home residency on death records, highlighting a systemic bias.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Many elderly individuals reside in nursing homes for extended periods.
- Nursing home residency is often a long-term or permanent living arrangement for seniors.
- Existing data collection methods may not accurately reflect this demographic's living situation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the discrepancy between actual nursing home residency and its representation on death certificates.
- To quantify the extent to which nursing home residence is omitted or underreported.
- To explore the underlying bias in death certificate data regarding nursing home residents.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of records from a proprietary nursing home.
- Classification of residents as 'permanent' based on defined criteria.
- Comparison of classified permanent residents with reported residence on death certificates.
Main Results:
- Between 45% and 66% of 128 surveyed nursing home residents could be classified as permanent.
- Only 24% of these residents had their nursing home listed as their residence on death certificates.
- A significant bias exists in the reporting of nursing home residency on death certificates.
Conclusions:
- Death certificates routinely underreport nursing home residency.
- This underreporting affects a substantial portion of permanent nursing home residents.
- Further investigation into this data bias is warranted to ensure accurate demographic representation.