RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN DISCHARGE PLANNING

Given previously reported findings of racial differences in elderly pe ople's use of posthospital care, this article focuses on discharge pla nning processes as explanations of differential service utilization. W e studied the discharge plans for 369 African American and white elder ly patients and examined options pursued for posthospital care fry soc ial workers, patients, and families for evidence of racial differences . We also looked for racial differences in ruling out nursing home car e for reasons of patient and family preference. Discharge planning wit h African American patients and family members involved less pursuit o f nursing home care and more pursuit of formal services in the home th an planning with white patients and families. Implications for practic e and future research are discussed.