OBJECTIVE

To determine demographic and health characteristics of older adults choosing to use on-site medical care in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).

DESIGN

A descriptive study of residents moving into a newly opened CCRC. Residents responded to a self-report mail survey composed of questions related to reasons for moving to a CCRC, health and functional status,health care use during the previous 5 years.

RESULTS

Of 942 residents, 642 (68%) completed the survey. Medical center users and nonusers were similar demographically and reported similar reasons for moving to the CCRC including desire for a low maintenance apartment (49% vs. 48%; P = 0.806), concern about health or spouse's health (67% vs. 63%; P = 0.345), and desire for social activities (63% vs. 58%; P = 0.151). However, on-site medical center users versus nonusers reported increased rates of fair/poor health (31% vs. 18%; P = 0.0001), fair/poor vision (27% vs. 15%; P = 0.0003),difficulty walking in the home (13% vs. 8%; P = 0.53), using the toilet (6% vs. 2%; P = 0.044), shopping (29% vs. 20%; P = 0.007), using transportation (19% vs. 10%; P = 0.005), doing laundry (13% vs. 7%; P = 0.016), using the telephone (8% vs. 3%; P = 0.002), and taking medication (5% vs. 1%; P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

For both users and nonusers of the medical center, the most frequently cited reason for moving to the CCRC was concern about health. On-site medical center users had lower perceived health, were functionally more disabled, and had health characteristics that made them at higher risk for high health care utilization. The challenges to provide high quality medical care and enhance quality of life for CCRC residents will continue to increase. Physicians should play an active role not only in providing medical care to CCRC residents, but also in providing medical leadership for these institutions.