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Homebound older persons: prevalence, characteristics, and longitudinal predictors
Jiska Cohen-Mansfield1, Dov Shmotkin, Haim Hazan
1The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, P.O.B. 39040, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. jiska@post.tau.ac.il
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Homebound status affects nearly 20% of older Israelis, linked to age, female gender, poor health, and environmental factors like stairs. Understanding these predictors is key to intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology of Aging
Background:
- Homebound status, characterized by limited mobility outside the home, is a significant concern in aging populations.
- Prevalence and associated factors of homebound status require further investigation to inform targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and identify predictors of homebound status in older adults in Israel.
- To elucidate the implications of homebound status on health, socio-economic factors, and environmental characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed on data from two Israeli cohorts: the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS) and the Israeli Multidisciplinary Aging Study (IMAS).
- A total of 1191 participants from CALAS and 418 from IMAS were analyzed, with a mean age of approximately 83 years.
Main Results:
- Homebound prevalence ranged from 17.7% to 19.5% in the studied cohorts.
- Homebound individuals were older, predominantly female, had varied Body Mass Index (BMI), poorer health, lower functional status, less income, higher depressed affect, and were lonelier.
- Key predictors included low Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) status, living in homes with stairs and no elevator, advanced age, female gender, and non-healthy BMI.
Conclusions:
- Homebound status is a prevalent issue among older adults in Israel, particularly the 'old-old' population.
- Economic, socio-demographic, environmental, and functional factors significantly influence an older person's likelihood of becoming homebound.
- Findings highlight the need for context-specific strategies to prevent homebound status and mitigate its adverse effects in Israel.
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