Title |
Factors associated with preferences for long-term care settings in old age: evidence from a population-based survey in Germany
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Published in |
BMC Health Services Research, February 2017
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DOI | 10.1186/s12913-017-2101-y |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
André Hajek, Thomas Lehnert, Annemarie Wegener, Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, Hans-Helmut König |
Abstract |
Long-term care is one of the most pressing health policy issues in Germany. It is expected that the need for long-term care will increase markedly in the next decades due to demographic shifts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with preferences for long-term care settings in old age individuals in Germany. Based on expert interviews and a systematic review, a questionnaire was developed to quantify long-term care preferences. Data were drawn from a population-based survey of the German population aged 65 and over in 2015 (n = 1006). In multiple logistic regressions, preferences for home care were positively associated with providing care for family/friends [OR: 1.6 (1.0-2.5)], lower self-rated health [OR: 1.3 (1.0-1.6)], and no current need of care [OR: 5.5 (1.2-25.7)]. Preferences for care in relatives' homes were positively associated with being male [OR: 2.0 (1.4-2.7)], living with partner or spouse [OR: 1.8 (1.3-2.4)], having children [OR: 1.6 (1.0-2.5)], private health insurance [OR: 1.6 (1.1-2.3)], providing care for family/friends [OR: 1.5 (1.1-2.0)], and higher self-rated health [OR: 1.2 (1.0-1.4)]. Preferences for care in assisted living were positively associated with need of care [OR: 1.9 (1.0-3.5)] and higher education [for example, University, OR: 3.5 (1.9-6.5)]. Preferences for care in nursing home/old age home were positively associated with being born in Germany [OR: 1.8 (1.0-3.1)] and lower self-rated health [OR: 1.2 (1.0-1.4)]. Preferences for care in a foreign country were positively associated with lower age [OR: 1.1 (1.0-1.2)] and being born abroad [OR: 5.5 (2.7-11.2)]. Numerous variables used are sporadically significant, underlining the complex nature of long-term care preferences. A better understanding of factors associated with preferences for care settings might contribute to improving long-term care health services. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 107 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 13 | 12% |
Researcher | 10 | 9% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 10 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 10 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 5% |
Other | 20 | 19% |
Unknown | 39 | 36% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Nursing and Health Professions | 20 | 19% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 14 | 13% |
Social Sciences | 8 | 7% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 6 | 6% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 5 | 5% |
Other | 13 | 12% |
Unknown | 41 | 38% |