Comparisons of aged Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white nursing home residents

The Mexican-American elderly have long been a focus of interest as a unique ethnic subgroup. A paucity of data, however, exists concerning Mexican-Americans in extended care facilities. The current retrospective study, conducted at a community based nursing facility, compared medical records of 54 Mexican-Americans to 30 non-Hispanic whites (Anglos). The records were reviewed with respect to demographics, major/minor diagnoses, functional status, and mental status data. Several differences were noted. Mexican-Americans were significantly more functionally impaired (mean = 22.2) than Anglos (mean = 20.0, P = .008). Further, Mexican-Americans demonstrated a significantly higher degree of mental impairment (mean = 3.2) than Anglos (mean = 2.3, P = .040). Finally, investigators noted that although statistically nonsignificant, a greater percentage of Mexican-Americans (40.7%) suffered cerebrovascular attacks (CVAs) than did Anglos (23.3%, P = .11). These results indicate that Mexican-Americans are entering nursing homes more functionally and mentally impaired than their Anglo counterparts, due in part perhaps to CVAs. This study suggests that an extended family structure may help Mexican-Americans stay in the community until greater degrees of disabilities have been reached.