Health and care-receiving profiles and unmet home care needs among community-dwelling Canadians aged 85 years and older.

BACKGROUND

The population aged 85 and older is one of the fastest-growing age groups. Identifying distinct health status and care-receiving profiles can improve the understanding of the heterogeneity in this age group. Unmet home care needs are associated with negative health consequences and can challenge the ability of those 85 and older to age in the community.

DATA AND METHODS

A representative sample of 4,083 community-dwelling Canadians aged 85 years and older from the 2019/2020 Canadian Health Survey on Seniors (CHSS) was used to identify health and care-receiving profiles applying latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with the profiles. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between the profiles and unmet home care needs.

RESULTS

An estimated 201,000 Canadians aged 85 years and older (28.2%) were classified as "healthiest-low care receiving", 180,000 (25.3%) as "moderately healthy-moderate care receiving," 194,000 (27.2%) as "moderately unhealthy-low care receiving," and 137,000 (19.2%) as "poor health-high care receiving." Increasing age and being an immigrant were associated with poorer health status and a higher likelihood of receiving care. An estimated 46,000 Canadians aged 85 years and older (6.5%) reported having unmet home care needs. Individuals with the profiles characterized by poorer health and a higher likelihood of receiving care were more likely to have unmet home care needs.

INTERPRETATION

The findings of this study highlight the importance of considering multiple health and care-receiving factors to better illuminate unmet home care needs among community-dwelling Canadians aged 85 years and older.