Description

The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is a continuing series of national sample surveys of nursing homes, their residents, and their staff.  Nursing home surveys have been conducted in 1973-74, 1977, 1985, 1995, 1997, and 1999.  These surveys were preceded by a series of surveys from 1963 through 1969, called the "residents places" surveys.   Although each of these surveys emphasized different topics, they all provided some common basic information about nursing homes, their residents, and their staff.

The most recent NNHS was conducted in 1999.  All nursing homes included in this survey had at least three beds and were either certified (by Medicare or Medicaid) or had a State license to operate as a nursing home.

The National Nursing Home Survey provides information on nursing homes from two perspectives--that of the provider of services and that of the recipient.  Data about the facilities include characteristics such as size, ownership, Medicare/Medicaid certification, occupancy rate, number of days of care provided, and expenses.  For recipients, data are obtained on demographic characteristics, health status, and services received.

Data for the survey has been obtained through personal interviews with administrators and staff and occasionally with self-administered questionnaires in a sample of about 1,500 facilities.

This page last reviewed August 13, 2004