Effect on physical functioning of care in adult foster homes and nursing homes

This study tested the effects on physical functioning of substituting adult foster care (AFC) for nursing home care. Secondary data from Oregon's Medicaid agency were used to compare change in ADL functioning of 1,032 nursing home and 279 AFC residents. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to analyze selection of long-term care setting and change in functioning. One-third of surviving AFC residents would have been better off in a nursing home, whereas almost all nursing home residents were placed appropriately. Further research on outcomes that clients value most along with efforts to support functioning are needed.