Table 1.

Characteristics of NH Decedents in Study, by Hospice Use and Race

Variables	All (N = 288,202)		White (n = 263,109)		Black (n = 25,093)
No hospice (n = 176,018)	Hospice (n = 112,184)	No hospice (n = 159,803)	Hospice (n = 103,306)	No hospice (n = 16,215)	Hospice (n = 8,878)
Decedent attributes
Women	64.4%	70.0%	64.8%	70.5%	61.1%	64.9%
Age	85.7 ± 7.8	86.1 ± 7.7	86.0 ± 7.6	86.3 ± 7.5	83.1 ± 8.7	83.8 ± 8.8
Married	25.4%	23.6%	25.9%	24.0%	20.2%	17.8%
Widowed	58.6%	61.8%	59.1%	62.2%	53.2%	56.5%
Single	16.1%	14.7%	15.0%	13.8%	26.6%	25.7%
<High school	31.4%	29.8%	29.3%	27.9%	48.0%	47.5%
High school	44.1%	44.6%	45.0%	45.5%	34.4%	34.1%
Some college	24.5%	25.6%	25.6%	26.7%	13.6%	13.5%
Power-attorney	38.6%	45.3%	41.0%	47.5%	14.9%	19.9%
DNR	65.9%	77.3%	68.6%	79.0%	38.4%	57.6%
DNH	8.8%	11.4%	9.2%	11.7%	4.4%	7.9%
Living will	11.5%	18.5%	12.4%	19.7%	2.7%	5.0%
Cancer	6.0%	11.5%	6.0%	11.3%	6.0%	13.5%
Alz.	7.8%	11.3%	7.9%	11.5%	6.1%	10.2%
Non-Alz. dementia	18.0%	24.1%	18.1%	24.1%	17.5%	25.2%
CHF	30.5%	26.3%	30.7%	26.4%	28.7%	24.0%
Stroke	21.5%	21.3%	20.3%	20.4%	32.7%	32.0%
Long stay (>90 days)	68.5%	81.8%	68.1%	81.5%	72.9%	84.4%
NH attributes
Low tier	2.4%	2.5%	1.9%	1.9%	7.8%	9.4%
Chain-affiliated	56.4%	56.7%	55.9%	56.4%	61.4%	60.8%
For-profit	70.7%	68.5%	69.7%	67.6%	80.5%	79.3%
High deficiencies	54.7%	54.3%	53.8%	53.5%	63.9%	63.2%
County attributes
No. of hospices	11.6 ± 12.1	12.8 ± 11.8	11.3 ± 11.8	12.6 ± 11.6	14.2 ± 14.7	15.3 ± 13.5
No. of MDsa	2.1 ± 1.3	2.1 ± 1.3	2.1 ± 1.3	2.1 ± 1.3	2.6 ± 1.4	2.6 ± 1.3
No. of hospital bedsa	2.2 ± 1.4	2.2 ± 1.4	2.2 ± 1.3	2.2 ± 1.4	2.9 ± 1.8	2.9 ± 1.8
No. of NH bedsa	4.8 ± 1.6	4.8 ± 1.6	4.8 ± 1.6	4.8 ± 1.7	4.8 ± 1.4	4.8 ± 1.5
% Occupied NH beds	87.4 ± 6.4	86.2 ± 7.0	87.5 ± 6.4	86.2 ± 7.0	87.1 ± 7.1	86.0 ± 7.2

Note: DNR = do not resuscitate; DNH = do not hospitalize; Alz. = Alzheimer's disease; CHF = congestive heart failure; NH = nursing home; MD = medical doctor.

^aPer 100 aged >65 years.