Multidimensional factors affecting care needs in daily living among community-dwelling older adults: A structural...

To develop a model illustrating the factors that can influence care needs in daily living (CNDL) of older adults and the pathways between these.

The care needs in community-dwelling older adults have increased sharply. A better understanding of the elderly's CNDL would thus help policymakers define which types of support and services should be given.

A multicentre study with structural equation modelling was conducted in this study. We recruited 3,448 community-dwelling older adults in China by using a stratified random cluster sampling technique.

Physical and mental health was the strongest predictor of CNDL. Both age and living situation had positive effects on CNDL, while economic factors, social support and family support were the major risk factors for CNDL.

The presented model provides a better understanding of how to address CNDL in the targeted population. The older adults who are the oldest, low-income, non-empty nesters, and with poor self-rated health or the signs of loneliness should be firstly targeted for daily assistance.

Using this model could provide health authorities and managers with the information of distinguishing between the priority group and the strategies for easing the caregiving burden in older adults care, and thus improving resource utilization.