Transitions to the Community: A Survey of Former Nursing Home Residents Discharged After Community Choice Counceling
Overview
From August 27th to October 11 tt:. the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy conducted a telephone survey of former nursino- home residents who had been counseled through New Jersey's Community Choice Counseling {CCC) program and subsequently di charged. Our study addressed clients' current living situation, use of informal and formal assistance, service deficiencies. satisfaction levels, selected negative health episodes. and e.'\.-perience with Community Choice Counseling and the transition out of the nursing home.
Purpose
The study had four goals:
• To obtain information on service adequacy and safety for the individual clients who had been discharged between March 1st and July 31. 1999.
• To assess the circumstances of d.ischar11ed clients overall. with emphasis on two issues: client safety/ service adequacy and use of paid services.
• To learn clients' perspectives on the CCC program.
• To generate insights that will help shape the future evaluation of the Community Choice Counseling Program in particular and the Senior Initiative generally.
Methods
The sampling frame consisted of 228 potential respondents, including 46 individuals who had been surveyed by DHSS in April 1999, and the 182 CCC clients dischar ed from nursing homes between March 1. 1999 and July 31 , 1999. We were able to contact and complete surveys with 107 clients or their proxies, yielding a response rate of 50 percent once we remove those deceased or unable to participate. The survey was administered by telephone and generally lasted 10 to 20 minutes. The questionnaire was developed with input from Community Choice counselors and other program staff. the Advisory Committee of the Senior Initiatives Evaluation. Center for State Health Policy staff and an external reviewer With e)..-pertise in long-term care.
Future Analysis
Our findings suggest the possibility of conceptualizing Community Choice clients as two distinct groups: the more entrenched nursing home residents and hose who perceived themselves as temporary residents. Further investigation into the role of CCC for these two groups would be valuable.
Conclusion
In general, most former nursing home residents felt their new living situation was an improvement over the nursing home and were satisfied with where they were living. The majority of seniors were getting the services and types of assistance they felt they needed with friends and relatives providing most the help. While only a small group remembered the CCC experience, the program was seen as helpful and supportive.