Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Do Caregiving Arrangements Influence Hospital Use Among Older Adults With Functional Limitations?
1Health Department, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, New York, USA.
Health Services Research
|May 15, 2026
Summary
Combined caregiving support reduced hospital stays for older adults with functional limitations. Tailored policies supporting both formal and family caregiving are recommended to decrease hospitalizations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Older adults with functional limitations face increased hospitalization risks.
- Caregiving arrangements vary, potentially impacting health outcomes.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for effective elder care policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of different caregiving arrangements on hospitalization risk and frequency.
- To analyze associations between family, formal, and combined caregiving and hospitalization outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study using Health and Retirement Study data (2004-2018).
- Analysis of community-dwelling older adults (65+) with functional limitations.
- Linear probability and Poisson regression models assessed hospitalization risk and frequency based on caregiving type (none, family, formal, combined).
Main Results:
- Overall hospitalization risk did not differ by caregiving type.
- Combined caregiving support was associated with fewer hospital stays among those hospitalized (IRR=0.712, p<0.01) compared to no support.
- Cognitive function, race, and ethnicity modified the effects of formal and combined caregiving on hospitalizations.
Conclusions:
- Expanding access to both formal and family caregiving support can help reduce hospitalizations in functionally limited older adults.
- Caregiving policies should be tailored to specific recipient characteristics for optimal effectiveness.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Continuing Care
Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:19Restorative Care
Restorative care is provided once a patient has been discharged from a healthcare facility and requires additional services. The additional services include home care, rehabilitation programs, and extended care. Restorative care centers help the patient regain their previous level of functioning or acquire a new level of functioning due to the incapacitating effects of a disease or a disability. It aims to assist patients in enhancing their quality of life by encouraging independence,...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
01:21Planning Nursing Care I
The planning phase of the nursing process helps nurses set priorities, outline patient-centered goals and expected outcomes, and tailor nursing interventions to align with the aligned care plan. Through the planning phase, the nurse applies critical thinking skills to align and develop interventions according to the patient's needs. It provides continuity of care allowing patients to receive the maximum benefit from treatment. It serves as a pilot plan for allocating individual staff to a...