Preferences of Integrated Care and the Influencing Factors Among Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE

Population aging and epidemiological transition have prompted requests for integrating health and social care. The goal of meeting complex care needs necessitates the understanding of preferred patterns among older adults. The study aimed to elicit the preferred care patterns and the influencing factors of integrated health and social care among community-dwelling older adults in multiple regions of China.

METHODS

From a national survey, 1184 community-dwelling older adults in three cities across China were included in the study. Individual characteristics and preferred care patterns were measured. Five preferred care patterns were classified, including Home-based health and social care, Community-based health and social care, Home-based health care but community-based social care, Community-based health care but home-based social care, and Institution-based health and social care. Multivariate logistic regression and random forest model were applied to obtain reliable results.

RESULTS

Overall, approximately half of the participants (47.7%) in the survey preferred Home-based health and social care and more than a quarter of participants (25.6%) preferred Community-based health and social care, followed by Institution-based health and social care (14.4%). A relatively small fraction of participants reported preferences for Home-based health care but community-based social care (8.0%) and Community-based health care but home-based social care (4.2%). Gender, age, education, living arrangement, resident city, income per month, access to medication, and self-care capability were significantly associated with older adults' preferences (p<0.05 each). Education, living arrangement, age, resident city, and income per month were the most relevant predictors, followed by gender, number of chronic diseases, self-care capability, and access to medication.

CONCLUSION

To effectively meet care needs, efforts should focus on home- and community-based care. Since the preferred care patterns were characterized by obvious variability, policymakers and service providers should carefully consider the differences in making tailored strategies.