A comparison of emergency medical service utilization in assisted living and long-term care facilities

A dramatic increase in the development of residential care facilities has paralleled the burgeoning population of older adults in the United States. However, there is currently little data available on the demographic and health utilization characteristics of the assisted living facility (ALF) population. Authors describe emergency medical service utilization in a cohort of ALF residents compared with nursing home residents based on review of electronic medical records and emergency transport records. The authors describe ALF cohort characteristics and the high medical comorbidity burden of this population, with high rates of dementia, heart failure, and depression. Findings provide preliminary insights into the acute care utilization of the ALF population and can help guide primary care interventions to potentially reduce emergency room visits.