scholarly journals The Joint Impact of Age at Death and Dementia on Long-Term Care Use in the Last Years of Life: Changes From 1996 to 2013 in Finland

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233372141987062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari S. Aaltonen ◽  
Leena P. Forma ◽  
Jutta M. Pulkki ◽  
Jani A. Raitanen ◽  
Pekka Rissanen ◽  
...  

Welfare states increasingly rely on aging in place policies and have cut back on institutional long-term care (LTC) provision. Simultaneously, the major determinants of LTC use, that is, dementia and living to very old age, are increasing. We investigated how increasing longevity and concomitant dementia were associated with changes in round-the-clock LTC use in the last 5 years of life between 1996 and 2013. Retrospective data drawn from national registers included all those who died aged 70+ in 2007 and 2013, plus a 40% random sample from 2001 ( N = 86,554). A generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to estimate the association of dementia and age with LTC use during three study periods 1996-2001, 2002-2007, and 2008-2013. Between the study periods, the total number of days spent in LTC increased by around 2 months. Higher ages at death and the increased number of persons with dementia contributed to this increase. The group of the most frequent LTC users, that is, people aged 90+ with or without dementia, grew the most in size, yet their LTC use decreased. The implications of very old age and concomitant dementia for care needs must be acknowledged to guarantee an adequate quantity and quality of care.

2021 ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Clemens Tesch-Römer ◽  
Hans-Werner Wahl ◽  
Suresh I. S. Rattan ◽  
Liat Ayalon

Social bonds and care are important factors for successful ageing. Most people do not grow old in isolation, but together with other people, supporting them and being supported by them. While ageing, people are embedded into a social network formed by family, friends, and neighbours. These social bonds are a necessary precondition for successful self-development over the course of our lives. The process of growing very old is characterized by morbidity, functional loss, and care needs. Hence, it is important to account for factors that enable successful ageing even in a life phase when social support and long-term care are becoming more important for a good life. Therefore, successful ageing must be seen in the context of advanced old age.


Author(s):  
André Hajek ◽  
Thomas Lehnert ◽  
Annemarie Wegener ◽  
Steffi Riedel-Heller ◽  
Hans-Helmut König

The aim of the present study was to identify specific actions and financial precautions undertaken by individuals in preparation for their long-term care needs, as well as to determine the correlates of these actions. A population-based survey of the German population aged 65 years and above (n = 1006) was used. Individuals were asked whether they have undertaken financial preparations for their long-term care needs (no; yes). With respect to specific actions, individuals were asked whether they (no; yes): (i) Had obtained information (e.g., from doctor, internet, care support center, care facility), (ii) had modified their home (e.g., installed a stair lift), and (iii) had moved (e.g., old-age housing, care in relatives’ homes). In total, 30.4% had undertaken financial preparations for their long-term care needs. With respect to the specific actions undertaken, 6.5% had obtained information, 4.8% modified their home, and 7.3% had moved. The outcome measure, ‘had modified home’, was positively associated with lower age, West Germany, and lower self-rated health. The outcome measure, ‘had moved’, was positively associated with being female, and higher education. The outcome measure, ‘financial preparations for long-term care needs‘, was positively associated with lower age, West Germany, higher education, being born in Germany, and private health insurance. It is alarming that only around one in three individuals aged 65 and older had undertaken financial preparations for long-term care needs, and that far fewer individuals had undertaken other actions to prepare for their long-term care needs. The provision of timely information regarding the risk of long-term care, as well as its associated costs, may assist in sustaining the satisfaction of long-term care recipients. It may also help to reduce the risk of long-term care for individuals in old age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 1315-1324

Background: Factors related to long-term care needs have been studied widely, but there is limited research about the influence of health literacy on long-term care needs among the elderly in rural communities where the social context and care environment are uniquely different. Objective: To examine factors influencing long-term care needs among Thai elderly in rural communities. Materials and Methods: The present study used the cross-sectional design. The study sample included 477 elderly persons, who were members of the communities in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Multi-stage random sampling was used to select participants. They were interviewed using the demographic and health information questionnaire, the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS), the health literacy scale of Thai adults and long-term care needs questionnaire. The selected factors examined as independent variables included some demographic factors, depressive symptom, and health literacy. Results: The present study results revealed significant positive relationships existing between long-term care needs with age and depressive symptom, while negative relationships between income and health literacy were reported. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that four of nine determinants of long-term care needs: age, depressive symptom, health knowledge and understanding, and ability managing their health condition significantly predicted long-term care needs at a level of 18% (R² adjusted=0.18, p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study results showed associations between personal and health literacy factors with long-term care needs. These findings prove that it is vitally important for healthcare professionals to consider the rural elderly’s mental health status and health literacy when providing care and planning treatment. Keywords: Health literacy, Long-term care needs, Rural community


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 725-725
Author(s):  
Yoko Ibuka ◽  
Yui Ohtsu

Abstract Socioeconomic status (SES) is generating considerable interest in terms of health of individuals, but how it is associated with long-term care has not been established yet. We study the relationship between SES and long-term care provision to parents among the Japanese adults using JSTAR. We use the following six measures of SES for the analysis: income, asset, expenditure, living condition, housing condition and education. We find a greater probability of care provision to parents among those in higher SES categories for some SES measures, compared to the lowest category. However, after considering the survival probability of parents, the relationship is reversed and the probability of care provision is found to be greater among lower SES individuals. The association is more pronounced among males. The association is likely to be partly mediated by care needs of parents. These results suggest a higher burden of care disproportionately falls in low SES individuals.


Author(s):  
Marsha Love ◽  
Felipe Tendick-Matesanz ◽  
Jane Thomason ◽  
Davine Carter ◽  
Myra Glassman ◽  
...  

The home care workforce, already at 2.7 million caregivers, will become the nation’s fastest growing occupation by 2024 as the senior boom generation accelerates the demand for in home services to meet its long-term care needs. The physically challenging work of assisting clients with intimate, essential acts of daily living places home care workers (HCWs) at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); yet, HCWs typically receive little formal job training and may lack appropriate assistive devices. In this qualitative pilot study, HCW focus groups described workplace MSD risk factors and identified problem-solving strategies to improve ergonomic conditions. The results revealed that HCWs rely on their behavioral insights, self-styled communications skills and caring demeanor to navigate MSD risks to themselves and increase clients’ physical independence of movement. We suggest changes in employer and government policies to acknowledge HCWs as valued team members in long-term care and to enhance their effectiveness as caregivers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rumi Seko ◽  
Shuji Hashimoto ◽  
Miyuki Kawado ◽  
Yoshitaka Murakami ◽  
Masayuki Hayashi ◽  
...  

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