Author:
Araya Alejandra-Ximena,Iriarte Evelyn,De Oliveira Giovanna,Baeza Maria Jose,Jankowski Catherine
Abstract
Purpose:
To identify factors contributing to the need for informal care among community-dwelling older adults with functional impairment in Chile.
Method:
A secondary data analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data from 540 Chilean older adults aged ≥60 years (mean age = 72.2 years,
SD
= 6.22 years).
Results:
Informal care need was reported by 24.3% (
n
= 131) of participants. Among the variables that most influenced the need for informal care among older adults were hospitalization in the past 1 year, functionality, comorbidities, and multidimensional frailty (all
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study identified factors that clinicians and nurses should be aware of when caring for this population to prevent or manage the need for informal care. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50
(2), 43–52.]