Black Americans are significantly underrepresented in residential care communities across the United States, a new analysis by The Associated Press and CNHI News, an American publisher of newspapers has found. The study, based on data from the 2020 National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study, reveals that while Black Americans account for approximately 9% of people over 65 in the U.S., they make up only 4.9% of the population in assisted living facilities.
In contrast, white Americans, who comprise 75% of the over-65 population, are overrepresented in residential care communities at 88%. The analysis also found that Black Americans are overrepresented in nursing homes, accounting for about 16% of residents.
Experts in the field attribute this disparity to a combination of factors, including personal and cultural preferences, insurance coverage, and the physical location of residential care communities. The high cost of assisted living, with a national median of $4,500 per month, puts these facilities out of reach for many Black Americans, who often rely on Medicaid to cover nursing home expenses.
Researchers, such as Lindsey Smith from the health systems management and policy department, are now focusing on whether new assisted living facilities are being built near Black communities. However, the lack of a comprehensive federal list of assisted living facilities makes it challenging to answer this question definitively.
The findings highlight the need for increased accessibility and affordability of assisted living options for Black Americans, ensuring that they have equal opportunities to benefit from the community, support, and independence these facilities can provide.
See “Black Americans are underrepresented in residential care communities, AP/CNHI News analysis finds” (May 23, 2024)
