Study on the Measurement and Influencing Factors of Care Service Demand of Disabled Elderly in Urban and Rural China

Abstract

Caregiving services are currently the weakest part of China’s social security system for the elderly. It is well needed to investigate the fac-tors affecting the unmet care needs of the elderly with disabilities. Based on the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (BMHSU), this paper explores the needs and influencing factors of care services for the disabled elderly in urban and rural areas using data from the 2018 Project of Social Policy Support System for Disadvantaged Families in China. The demand for care services of the disabled elderly in central and western areas is significantly higher than that in eastern, along with that in rural areas significantly higher than that in urban areas. The demands for care services of the disabled elderly in urban and rural areas are significantly affected by tendency factors, resource factors, and need factors. Urban and rural attributes, worried pension and LCI are the common influencing factors for the care service demand of the disabled elderly from economically disadvantaged families and ordinary families. The demands for care services of the disabled elderly were associated with tendencies, resources, and needs, increased chronic disease prevention and mental health services benefit caregivers.