Utilisation Willingness for Institutional Care among Elderly Adults Living Alone in Northwest of China: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Due to changes in family structures and social environments, an increasing number of elderly adults are living alone. The unique characteristics of their lifestyles and the absence of home-based care have necessitated the provision of special care and amenities for the elderly. The issue of willingness to utilize institutional care is a significant research priority, yet few studies have examined the willingness and factors influencing elderly adults living alone to consider such care. The objective of the study is to examine the variables that influence the decision of elderly individuals living alone to receive institutional care. This study aimed to explore the willingness of elderly adults living alone to choose institutional care and associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, involving seven cities in Gansu Province, China. The analysis included 3,726 elderly adults living alone and used univariate analysis and binary logistic regression models to analyze the factors influencing institutional care willingness. To explore key factors, data were analyzed with stratifications on gender, age, and gender. The impact strength of each model was determined using the Anderson model as the theoretical foundation. Results: Of 3,726 elderly adults living alone, only 6.3% have a willingness for institutional care. The binary logistic regression showed that sources of life support, knowledge of the combination with medical care, the number of children, satisfaction with current health services, feeling of solitude, and frequency of medical examinations had a statistically significant impact on the willingness of the elderly adultsliving alone to age in institutions (P < 0.05). The predisposing and enabling factors have a bigger impact on the outcomes, according to the findings of fitting the coefficients using the Anderson model. Conclusions: The results of our study showed that elderly adults living alone were less willing to receive institutional care, but they had a higher demand for medical care and emotional support. Consequently, to address the aging crisis, it is advised that pertinent authorities implement targeted initiatives with an emphasis on the elderly.