Profit, ownership, and the corporation: Deviance in American elder care

Abstract

Research on the links between organizational type and quality of care in nursing homes has suggested the two affect one another (Jenkins and Braithwaite 1993). All types of nursing homes neglect residents. However, research finds deviation more often exists in facilities that seek profit. In the United States, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) monitors nursing homes. HCFA reports information on nursing home ownership and rates of citations. This analysis of 385 nursing homes shows a connection between profit ownership and deviance. The findings lead us to conclude that organizational type may provide an environment conducive to a lower quality of care in nursing homes. This analysis contributes to research on nursing home deviance in other countries.