Domestic care dependency in the aged: a total community survey in Israel

Two hundred and sixty elderly residents of 10 rural Israeli communities were screened for the presence of a variety of domestic disabilities using the Domestic Care Dependency Index. The Index measures ability to function without help in shopping, cooking, laundering, housekeeping, reaching a source of primary medical care and identifying doctor-prescribed medication. Sixty-four per cent of the population screened showed dependency in at least one category. Dependency increased with age and was much more common in men (94.7 per cent) than women (33.3 per cent). We emphasize the importance of identifying domestic needs in the elderly, both real and potential, so that family members or community workers can provide help where it is needed and the necessity for prolonged professional or institutional care can be avoided or postponed.