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Impaired and disabled elderly in the community.
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
American Journal of Public Health
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Most urban elderly receive community care, not institutional care. Factors like younger age, male gender, higher income, and living with family favor home-based care for impaired seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- The increasing elderly population presents challenges for long-term care provision.
- Understanding care settings for impaired or disabled older adults is crucial for resource allocation.
- Community-based care models are often proposed as alternatives to institutionalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the prevalence of community versus institutional care for urban elderly individuals.
- To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with the choice of care setting.
Main Methods:
- A nine-year representative, longitudinal study was conducted.
- The study included 1,598 urban elderly participants.
- Data on care setting, functional status, and demographic factors were collected.
Main Results:
- Two to eight times more impaired or disabled elderly individuals received care in the community compared to institutions.
- Younger age was associated with a higher likelihood of receiving community care.
- Male gender, higher income, and living with others (especially children) favored in-home care.
Conclusions:
- Community-based care is the predominant setting for impaired or disabled urban elderly.
- Several factors, including demographics and socioeconomic status, influence the preference for home care over institutionalization.
- Findings support the development and expansion of community care services for the aging population.