Education and Advance Care Planning in Nursing Homes: The Impact of Ownership Type

Abstract

The study examined the association between ownership type and community benefit as measured by organizational approaches to patient, family, and community education. As a case study of the broader class of educational efforts, the inquiry focused on educational efforts regarding a central patient care issue for nursing homes: the use of life-sustaining medical treatment. Results indicated that nonprofit and for-profit nursing homes were equally likely to conduct educational efforts concerning advance care planning. However, nonprofit nursing homes were more likely than for-profit nursing homes to have ongoing, rather than sporadic, discussions about advance care planning; to broaden such discussions beyond life-support wishes; and to have ethics committees to support advance care planning. Other empirical research has demonstrated ownership differences in both cost and quality of care. This study offers new evidence regarding additional ways in which nonprofit long-term care facilities may be distinguished from their for-profit counterparts.