Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities
Abstract Background With a rapidly ageing population and a decline in the availability of family caregivers, the number of older adults with disabilities who have unmet long-term care needs is gradually increasing worldwide. However, whether there are gender differences in the association between pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04383-2 |
| _version_ | 1827708473253560320 |
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| author | Selin Woo Ying Cui Suyeon Kim Mankyu Choi |
| author_facet | Selin Woo Ying Cui Suyeon Kim Mankyu Choi |
| author_sort | Selin Woo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background With a rapidly ageing population and a decline in the availability of family caregivers, the number of older adults with disabilities who have unmet long-term care needs is gradually increasing worldwide. However, whether there are gender differences in the association between primary caregivers or their attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance remains largely unknown. Methods This study used the latest 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), containing the data of 1187 older adults with disabilities aged 65 and older, to identify gender differences in the attitudes of primary caregivers toward the unmet needs for ADL assistance among with disabilities adults in China. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effects of primary caregivers and their caregiving attitudes on the unmet care experiences of older adults with ADLs. In addition, a gender-stratified analysis was conducted to compare the differences based on older adults’ gender. Results The results revealed that the lack of positive attitudes from primary caregivers might create a situation of unmet needs for ADL assistance among older adults. When family members carry the main burden of care, older adults with disabilities, especially older women, have a lower level of unmet needs for ADL assistance. Therefore, it is important to consider gender-specific interventions to improve ADL assistance among older adults. Conclusions The findings suggest that the presence of a family member as a caregiver has a significant effect on unmet needs for ADL assistance in women, highlighting the importance of developing an emotional bond with the caregiver. Given that the availability of informal caregivers, such as family members, is declining, it is crucial to provide financial assistance and formal services, such as paid home services and community-based care services, and reduce the burden on family caregivers to address the unmet needs for ADL assistance among older adults with disabilities in China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:04:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d96a7cf025343af937f8556d036fa00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:04:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d96a7cf025343af937f8556d036fa002023-11-20T10:51:55ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182023-10-0123111510.1186/s12877-023-04383-2Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilitiesSelin Woo0Ying Cui1Suyeon Kim2Mankyu Choi3Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School and Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea UniversityDepartment of Public Health Science, Graduate School and Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea UniversityDepartment of Public Health Science, Graduate School and Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea UniversitySchool of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science and Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Graduate School, Korea UniversityAbstract Background With a rapidly ageing population and a decline in the availability of family caregivers, the number of older adults with disabilities who have unmet long-term care needs is gradually increasing worldwide. However, whether there are gender differences in the association between primary caregivers or their attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance remains largely unknown. Methods This study used the latest 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), containing the data of 1187 older adults with disabilities aged 65 and older, to identify gender differences in the attitudes of primary caregivers toward the unmet needs for ADL assistance among with disabilities adults in China. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effects of primary caregivers and their caregiving attitudes on the unmet care experiences of older adults with ADLs. In addition, a gender-stratified analysis was conducted to compare the differences based on older adults’ gender. Results The results revealed that the lack of positive attitudes from primary caregivers might create a situation of unmet needs for ADL assistance among older adults. When family members carry the main burden of care, older adults with disabilities, especially older women, have a lower level of unmet needs for ADL assistance. Therefore, it is important to consider gender-specific interventions to improve ADL assistance among older adults. Conclusions The findings suggest that the presence of a family member as a caregiver has a significant effect on unmet needs for ADL assistance in women, highlighting the importance of developing an emotional bond with the caregiver. Given that the availability of informal caregivers, such as family members, is declining, it is crucial to provide financial assistance and formal services, such as paid home services and community-based care services, and reduce the burden on family caregivers to address the unmet needs for ADL assistance among older adults with disabilities in China.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04383-2CaregiversUnmet needs for ADL assistanceActivities of daily livingGender differenceOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Selin Woo Ying Cui Suyeon Kim Mankyu Choi Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities BMC Geriatrics Caregivers Unmet needs for ADL assistance Activities of daily living Gender difference Older adults |
| title | Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| title_full | Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| title_fullStr | Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| title_short | Gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| title_sort | gender differences in caregiver attitudes and unmet needs for activities of daily living adl assistance among older adults with disabilities |
| topic | Caregivers Unmet needs for ADL assistance Activities of daily living Gender difference Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04383-2 |
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