Poverty and working status in changes of unmet health care need in old age

Evaluation of the impact of social safety net program on health care utilization in Togo

BACKGROUND

The use of health care services by the most vulnerable households in low-and middle-income countries is a major challenge. This includes ensuring access to health services and protecting households from the financial risks of unaffordable medical care. In 2008, Togo put in place a social safety net program which aims to help vulnerable households benefit from cash transfers, free health care services, donated bed nets and food supplements.

METHODS

The data come from recent national household surveys in Togo. These are the 2018 Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM). The sample size of the EHCVM survey is 6171 households. Using propensity scores (PSM) and the endogenous switching regression (ESR) model, we find that basic social nets have little direct effect on health care utilization.

RESULTS

These results show that households that are beneficiaries of the social safety nets would have had less -80.52% (-0.413/0.5129) use of health care services than if they had not participated in the social safety nets. These results show the indirect effect of the mitigation of social safety nets by policy makers to avoid hunger, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment. All of these strengthen the health status of households by avoiding certain diseases that may lead them to use health care services.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides new evidence on the impact of social safety net programs on household health care utilization. Given the voluntary nature of participation in social safety nets by households, we exploit the uneven deployment of the program in rural areas as a natural experiment to explore causal inference. However, they do ensure good health status of households through different transmission channels, which reduces health care utilization. Policy makers should be encouraged to expand this program to other non-beneficiary groups.

Impact of medical resources in residential area on unmet healthcare needs: Findings from a multi-level analysis of Korean nationwide data

Purpose

This study aimed to examine whether sufficient medical resources in residential areas influence individuals' unmet healthcare needs in South Korea, where overpopulation is of concern.

Methods

Two publicly available datasets were utilized: The Korean Community Health Survey at the individual-level and the Korean medical utilization statistics at the regional-level. It included 176,378 individuals. To address the clustered nature of the regional-level data, a multi-level framework was applied, containing individual-level data, incorporating demographic details and health information.

Results

Individuals living in small cities and rural areas with sufficient medical resources were 1.26 times more likely to experience unmet healthcare needs than those living in well-resourced metropolitan cities. Additionally, the adjusted odds ratio for unmet healthcare needs was the highest at 1.32 for those living in small cities and rural areas lacking sufficient medical resources. Stratified analyses revealed the largest disparity in unmet healthcare needs between income levels in regions with sufficient resources. In these areas, those with the lowest income were 1.77 times more likely to experience unmet healthcare than those with the highest income. Similarly, in metropolitan cities, the income-based gap in unmet healthcare needs was most pronounced, with the adjusted odds ratio for the lowest-income group being 1.66.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that living in small cities or rural areas with insufficient medical resources, as well as having a low income level even in an area with sufficient medical services, significantly increases individuals' unmet healthcare needs. This suggests then need for equitable distribution medical resources across regions and public health support policies that do not limit access to medical care for people with poor socioeconomic status.

Impact of unmet health-related need on suicidal behavior in Korean adults: a retrospective nationwide cohort study

We aimed to evaluate the association of unmet health-related need with suicidal behaviors among Korean adults. We included 26,219 adults (13,937 men and 17,788 women) aged ≥ 19 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2020). Suicidal behavior included suicidal plan and attempt. We analyzed the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of suicidal behaviors according to unmet health-related need via multivariable logistic regression analysis and performed stratified analyses according to sex, age, income, education, and type of insurance. Of the participants, 9.6% had unmet health-related need. Suicidal plans and attempts had 1.3% and 0.5% of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of suicidal plans and attempts was 0.9% and 0.4% among participants without unmet health-related need and 3.1% and 1.0% among those with such need, respectively. The odd ratios of suicidal plans and attempts increased significantly among participants with unmet health-related need compared to those without. In subgroup analysis, most subgroups showed similar results, except for suicidal plan and attempt in the 45-64 age group, high education, and medical care and suicidal attempt in 19-44 age group, low-income, and unmarried. Unmet health-related need was independently associated with suicidal plan and attempt. A policy alternative is needed for these associations.

The causal effect of catastrophic health expenditure on poverty in Poland

INTRODUCTION

Out-of-pocket medical expenses are a crucial source of health care financing in a number of countries. With the ongoing population aging, health care costs are likely to increase. Therefore, disentangling the relationship between health care spending and monetary poverty is becoming increasingly important. Although there is extensive literature on the impoverishment effect of out-of-pocket medical payments, it lacks empirical studies on a causal relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and poverty. In our paper, we try to fill this gap.

METHODS

We estimate recursive bivariate probit models using Polish Household Budget Survey data covering years from 2010 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2018. The model controls for a wide range of factors and endogeneity between poverty and catastrophic health expenditure.

RESULTS

We show that the causal relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and relative poverty is significant and positive across different methodological approaches. We find no empirical evidence that a one-time incidence of catastrophic health expenditure creates a poverty trap. We also show that using a poverty measure which treats out-of-pocket medical payments and luxury consumption as perfect substitutes can lead to an underestimation of poverty among the elderly.

CONCLUSION

Out-of-pocket medical payments should probably receive more attention from policymakers than the official statistics suggest. A current challenge is to correctly identify and appropriately support those who are most affected by catastrophic health expenditure. More prospectively, a complex modernization of the Polish public health system is needed.

Rural-urban difference in meeting the need for healthcare and food among older adults: evidence from India

BACKGROUND

Due to changes in demographic and epidemiological scenarios, and the gradual increase in the older population, India is yet to prepare for rising nutrition and health-related issues among older adults in the coming decades. While the process of ageing and its associated aspect has been found to have an urban-rural divide. Thus, this study examines rural/urban differences in unmet needs for food and healthcare among Indian older adults.

METHODS

A sample of 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above were considered in the study from the Longitudinal and Ageing Survey of India (LASI). The bivariate analysis was done using the sampling weights. Logistic regression and decomposition analysis was used to explain the rural-urban gap in the unmet needs for food and healthcare among Indian older adults.

RESULTS

Rural older adults were more vulnerable to meeting the need for health and food than their urban counterparts. While factors that contributed majorly to the difference in unmet need for food between urban and rural were education (34.98%), social group (6.58%), living arrangements (3.34%) and monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) (2.84%). Similarly, for the unmet need for health, the factors that contributed the most to the rural-urban gap are education (28.2%), household size (2.32%), and MPCE (1.27%).

CONCLUSION

The study indicates more vulnerability among rural older adults than compared to urban older individuals. The targeted policy-level efforts should be initiated considering the economic and residential vulnerability identified in the study. There is a need for primary care services that can provide targeted help to older adults in rural communities.

Unmet healthcare needs, health outcomes, and health inequalities among older people in China

Objective

This study examines whether the experience of unmet healthcare needs in a large sample of Chinese adults aged 60 and over is associated with adverse health outcomes, and how this association varied across needs related to health conditions.

Study design

The 2013 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study is examined. We adopted latent class analysis to identify groups based on health conditions. Then in each identified group, we examined the extent to which unmet needs were associated with self-rated health and depression. To understand the channels through which unmet needs adversely affected health outcomes, we examined the impact of unmet needs attributed to various factors.

Results

Compared to the mean, experiencing unmet outpatient needs is associated with a 3.4% decrease in self-rated health, and people are twice as likely to have depression symptoms (OR = 2.06). Health problems are even more severe when inpatient needs are not met. The frailest people are most affected by affordability-related unmet needs, while healthy people are most affected by unmet needs attributable to availability.

Conclusion

To tackle unmet needs, direct measures for particular populations will be required in the future.

Decomposing Disability Inequality in Unmet Healthcare Needs and Preventable Hospitalizations: An Analysis of the Korea Health Panel

Objectives: This study examines the inequality between people with and without disabilities regarding unmet healthcare needs and preventable hospitalization. Methods: We used the Korea Health Panel of 2016-2018; the final analytical observations were 43,512, including 6.95% of persons with disabilities. We examined the differences in contributors to the two dependent variables and decomposed the observed differences into explained and unexplained components using the Oaxaca-Blinder approach. Results: Unmet healthcare needs and preventable hospitalizations were 5.6% p (15.36% vs. 9.76%) and 0.68% p (1.82% vs. 0.61%), respectively, higher in people with disabilities than in those without, of which 48% and 35% were due to characteristics that the individual variables cannot explain. Decomposition of the distributional effect showed that sex, age, and chronic disease significantly increased disparities for unmet healthcare needs and preventable hospitalization. Socioeconomic factors such as income level and Medical aid significantly increased the disabled-non-disabled disparities for unmet healthcare needs. Conclusion: Socioeconomic conditions increased the disparities, but around 35%-48% of the disparities in unmet healthcare needs and preventable hospitalization were due to unexplained factors, such as environmental barriers.

Factors associated with quality of life in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 2009-2016

This study analyzed the factors affecting the health-related quality of life of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) according to age. We also aimed to determine appropriate strategies to improve their quality of life. Data from the Korea Health Panel Survey (2009-2016) were used in this study. A total of 3806 patients with BPH were divided into 2 groups: younger adults (aged under 65 years) and older adults (aged over 65 years). In addition, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting the quality of life of young and older patients with BPH. In younger adult patients with BPH, the higher the level of education, the higher the quality of life by a factor of 1.379, and the more intense the physical activity, the lower the quality of life by a factor of 0.791. Also, the longer the sitting time, the lower the quality of life by a factor of 0.765. In contrast, for older adult patients with BPH, the quality of life improved by factors of 1.601 and 2.921, respectively, for health insurance and higher income level. In addition, it was found that the quality of life decreased by a factor of 0.754 in patients who drink alcohol. In order to improve the quality of life of the middle-aged adult population with BPH, it is necessary to reduce sitting time through constant physical activity. Moreover, the cost of medical care should be reduced and the quality of life increased through reductions in surgical treatment, as the burden of medical expenses will degrade the quality of life for older adults.

Satisfying medical and rehabilitation needs positively influences returning to work after a work-related injury: an analysis of national panel data from 2018 to 2019

Background

This study examined how meeting the medical needs of injured workers after initial treatment may affect their return to work, using data from the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

Methods

This study was designed as a longitudinal study, which used data from the second-year, follow-up survey conducted in the secondary cohort of the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were estimated through binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyses to examine the effects of unmet medical needs on workers’ return to original work and return to work overall (including reemployment).

Results

The returned to original work OR of workers whose rehabilitation needs were met was 1.35 (1.12–1.63) while the return to work OR was 1.20 (1.03–1.41). The returned to original work OR of workers whose medical needs were met was 1.64 (1.18–2.27) while the return to work OR was 1.39 (1.07–1.80). In terms of disability rating, the return to work ORs of workers with mild disabilities whose medical/rehabilitation needs were not met and those of workers without disabilities were 1.71 (1.17–2.49) and 1.97 (1.27–3.08), respectively. In the case of regular/temporary workers, the returned-to-work ORs of workers whose medical/rehabilitation needs were not met were 1.54 (1.12–2.13) and 1.27 (1.03–1.56), respectively.

Conclusions

For workers who sustained work-related injuries, providing medical accessibility and meeting rehabilitation needs were found to be important predictors of return to work after initial treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12064-1.

Impact of Long Working Hours and Shift Work on Unmet Health Care Need Among Korean Workers

Background

This study aimed to identify work-related risk factors, including long working hours and night/shift work, for unmet health care need using data of a representative panel of Korean adults.

Methods

Associations between work-related factors and unmet health care need were analyzed using data of 3,440 participants (10,320 observations) from the 2011-2013 Korean Health Panel Study. A generalized estimating equation was used for the analysis of repeated measures.

Results

The prevalence of unmet health care was 16.6%. After adjusting sex, age, socioeconomic status, work characteristics, and working more than 60 hours per week (odds ratio [OR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–1.65) or 50–59 hours per week (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.46) instead of 40–49 hours per week and night/shift work (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–1.51) were associated with unmet health care need.

Conclusion

Long working hours and night/shift work are risk factors for unmet health care need among the Korean working population.

ADL/ IADL dependencies and unmet healthcare needs in older persons: A nationwide survey

PURPOSE

To determine the impact of overall and component-wise activities for daily living (ADL) as well as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependencies on unmet healthcare needs in older adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional analyses were performed based on a National Survey of Older Koreans. A total of 10,082 participants aged ≥ 65 years were included. All data were collected through standardized, personal interviews with participants and their representatives. Logistic regression was used to analyse the risk of unmet healthcare needs, with or without adjustment.

RESULTS

Amongst all participants, 734 (7.2%) had ADL dependency. Participants with ADL dependency had lower income, education level, and perceived health status (p<0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for the risk of unmet healthcare needs was 1.52 (95%, confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.95) for ADL and 1.54 (95%, CI 1.28-1.86) for IADL. When men have ADL dependency, aOR of unmet healthcare needs was higher than that of women (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.15 - 3.11; aOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.15 - 2.36, respectively) and IADL showed the same trend. Any dependency on ADL or IADL was associated with higher risk of unmet healthcare needs, whether adjusted or not (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with ADL or IADL dependency had higher risks of unmet healthcare needs than their independent counterparts. In addition to mobility problems, other components were related to unmet healthcare needs. Therefore, to reduce unmet healthcare needs, integration of health and social care that supports ADL or IADL dependency should be considered.

Unmet health needs and associated factors among 1727 rural community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To investigate the needed, unneeded and unmet health care services among rural community-dwelling older adults in China and examine the influencing factors, aiming to facilitate the global development of the home care system for a healthier world.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study investigated rural areas in three provinces in Western China. A total of 1727 rural community-dwelling older adults were enrolled. The needed, unneeded and unmet health care services were assessed by the Supply and Demand of Health Care Services (SD-HCS) questionnaire for older adults.

RESULTS

Respect (73%, 1265/1727) was the most needed. The other top 9 needed mainly belonged to the divisions of health monitoring and information regarding chronic diseases. Re-employment or part-time jobs (71%, 1230/1727) was the most unneeded. All five protection and safety items were the most unmet but needed. Religion was the main influencing factor of those health care services that were less unmet but needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Respect was basic for older adults, and chronic disease management was in great demand among rural community-dwelling older adults. Due to low willingness and the crisis workforce, a more flexible retirement policy is needed in rural China. It is urgent to improve the emergency care system in rural areas. Last but not least, more research is needed to explore the association between religion and health.

Rates and Determinants of Eyecare Utilization and Eyeglass Affordability Among Individuals With Visual Impairment in a Multi-Ethnic Population-Based Study in Singapore

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of, and factors associated with, eyecare utilization and spectacle affordability among Singaporeans with vision impairment (VI).

Methods

We included adults with VI from their second visit of the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Disease Study. Data on eyecare utilization and spectacle affordability were collected. Low eyecare utilization was defined as no eye check ever or eye checks not even once per year in reference to at least once per year. Difficulty affording glasses was defined as glasses being rated as expensive in reference to not expensive.

Results

There were 985 adults (14.5%; 415 Malays, 260 Indian, and 310 Chinese; mean age [SD]: 69.5 [10.2] years; 55.4% women) with VI who answered the above questions, were included. Of these, 624 (63.4%) wore glasses. The rates of low eyecare utilization and difficulty affording eyeglasses were 31% and 63%, respectively. Compared to Chinese (23.8%) and Indians (18.8%), Malays (57.4%) had the highest rates of low eyecare utilization (P < 0.001), and most difficulty affording eyeglasses (47.2% vs. 26.1% and 26.6% in Chinese and Indians, respectively; P < 0.001). Younger age, low socioeconomic status, absence of diabetes, absence of self-reported eye conditions, and poor vision were independently associated with low eyecare utilization, whereas older age and female sex was associated with difficulty affording glasses.

Conclusions

In this multi-ethnic population with VI, almost one-third had low eyecare utilization and nearly two-thirds reported difficulty affording eyeglasses.

Translational Relevance

This will inform strategies, such as tailored eyecare utilization awareness campaigns and awareness of available subsidy schemes for at-risk Singaporeans, such as Malays.

Quality of Life in Older Adults with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of older patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and suggest ways to improve the same. Through this, we will improve the self-management practice of patients and promote the treatment of BPH in older patients. The 2015 Korea Health Panel Survey data were used in this study. A total of 422 BPH patients aged 65 or older were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting the HRQOL of older patients with BPH. General characteristics of factors affecting older patients with BPH included income level and type of insurance. In addition, among medical-related characteristics and health behavior factors, subjective health status, unmet medical care needs, moderate physical activity, sitting time, and drinking influenced the HRQOL. Therefore, in order to improve the HRQOL of adult patients with BPH, it is necessary to improve medical accessibility by strengthening primary care. In addition, it is necessary to increase the amount of activity in daily life through healthcare medical devices.

Unmet Medical Needs of Patients with Benign Prostate Enlargement

This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the unmet medical needs of patients with benign prostate enlargement (BPE) based on Andersen's behavioral model. The data were taken from the 2009-2016 Korea Health Panel Study and 3003 participants were used for analysis. "Unmet medical needs" was used as a dependent variable. Independent variables were predisposing variables: age, educational attainment, and marital status; enabling factors: income, job type, and insurance type; and need factors: lying in a sickbed, activity limitation, subjective health status, and having chronic diseases. Results showed that younger patients experienced a higher probability of unmet medical needs. Those with higher educational attainment had a lower chance of experiencing unmet medical needs. Patients with national health insurance were less likely to experience unmet medical needs. In addition, patients who experienced lying in a sickbed had a higher probability of experiencing unmet medical needs. Therefore, in order to reduce the unmet medical needs of patients with BPE, it is necessary to allow patients to be treated early and give them accurate information about the disease. In addition, access to medical care should be strengthened through continuous care focused on primary care.

Understanding unmet health-care need among older Ghanaians: a gendered analysis

Health insurance schemes are important for bridging gaps in health-care needs between the rich and poor, especially in contexts where poverty is higher among seniors (persons aged 65 years and above). In this study we examined (a) gender-based predictors of unmet health-care need among seniors and (b) whether access was influenced by wealth status (measured by income quintiles). Gender-specific negative log–log regression models were fitted to data from the Study on Global Ageing and Health to examine associations between unmet health-care need and health insurance status controlling for theoretically relevant covariates. Insurance status was an important determinant of men and women's unmet health-care need but the relationship was moderated by income quintile for women and not men. While occupation was important for men, religion, marital status and income quintile were significantly associated with women's unmet health-care need. Based on the observed gender differences, we recommend the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the economic situation of older people, particularly women.

Neighborhood Deprivation and Unmet Health Care Needs: A Multilevel Analysis of Older Individuals in South Korea

Objectives

In this study the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and the unmet health care needs of elderly individuals (≥ 65 years) was examined. Some previous studies suggested that neighborhood characteristics affect access to health care, yet research on the unmet needs of older individuals is limited.

Methods

Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of neighborhood-level factors with unmet health care needs due to costs, adjusting for individual-level factors, in individuals ≥ 65 years in the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey (n = 63,388).

Results

There were 2.6% of elderly individuals who experienced unmet health care needs due to costs. Following adjustment for individual and neighborhood characteristics, the neighborhood deprivation in urban areas was found to have an inverse association with unmet needs (odds ratio = 0.50; 95% confidence interval = 0.24-1.06) for the most deprived quartile versus the least deprived quartile). However, in rural areas neighborhood deprivation was not a significant variable. Among the individual-level variables, household income was one of the strongest correlates with unmet needs in both urban and rural areas.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest that targeted policy interventions reflecting both neighborhood and individual characteristics, should be implemented to reduce the unmet health care needs of elderly individuals.

Poor People and Poor Health: Examining the Mediating Effect of Unmet Healthcare Needs in Korea

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to estimate the mediating effect of subjective unmet healthcare needs on poor health. The mediating effect of unmet needs on health outcomes was estimated.

Methods

Cross-sectional research method was used to analyze Korea Health Panel data from 2011 to 2015, investigating the mediating effect for each annual dataset and lagged dependent variables.

Results

The magnitude of the effect of low income on poor health and the mediating effect of unmet needs were estimated using age, sex, education level, employment status, healthcare insurance status, disability, and chronic disease as control variables and self-rated health as the dependent variable. The mediating effect of unmet needs due to financial reasons was between 14.7% to 32.9% of the total marginal effect, and 7.2% to 18.7% in lagged model.

Conclusions

The fixed-effect logit model demonstrated that the existence of unmet needs raised the likelihood of poor self-rated health. However, only a small proportion of the effects of low income on health was mediated by unmet needs, and the results varied annually. Further studies are necessary to search for ways to explain the varying results in the Korea Health Panel data, as well as to consider a time series analysis of the mediating effect. The results of this study present the clear implication that even though it is crucial to address the unmet needs, but it is not enough to tackle the income related health inequalities.

The Role of Senior Housing in Hospitalizations Among Vulnerable Older Adults With Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Longitudinal Perspective

Background and Objectives

This study focuses on vulnerable elders (i.e., those with moderate or low incomes who live alone) and examines to what extent a senior housing environment moderates the effects of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) on hospitalization over time.

Research Design and Methods

Data came from six waves (2002-2012) of the Health Retirement Study (N = 1,401 individuals, 3,705 observations). Mixed-effect multinomial logistic regression modeling estimated the effects of senior housing on changes in hospitalization.

Results

Vulnerable elders with MCCs were more likely to be hospitalized at both moderate and heavy levels at baseline. Consistent with the environment docility hypothesis, findings show that older individuals with MCCs who live in a senior housing environment have fewer hospitalizations over time.

Discussions and Implications

As one of the first efforts to build empirical knowledge on health care use among vulnerable elders in senior housing, our findings underscore the importance of continued research into these environments as a possible alternative to existing models.

Unmet healthcare needs of elderly people in Korea

BACKGROUND

Elderly people often have more complicated healthcare needs than younger adults due to additional functional decline, physical illness, and psychosocial needs. Unmet healthcare needs increase illness severity, complications, and mortality. Despite this, research on the unmet healthcare needs of elderly people is limited in Korea. This study analysed the effect of functional deterioration related to aging on unmet healthcare needs based on the Korea Health Panel Study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used data from the 2011-2013 survey of 8666 baseline participants aged 65 years and older. Unmet healthcare needs were calculated using a complex weighted sample design. Group differences in categorical variables were analysed using the Rao-Scott Chi-square test. Using logistic regression analysis, the association between unmet healthcare needs and aging factors was analysed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of unmet healthcare needs in Korean elderly was 17.4%. Among them, the leading reason was economic hardship (9.2%). Adjusting for sex, age, socioeconomic characteristics, and health-related characteristics, the group with depression syndrome was 1.45 times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than that without depression syndrome (95% CI = 1.13-1.88). The group with visual impairment was 1.48 times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than that without it (95% CI = 1.22-1.79). The group with hearing impairment was 1.40 times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than that without it (95% CI = 1.15-1.72). The group with memory impairment was 1.74 times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than that without it (95% CI = 1.28-2.36).

CONCLUSIONS

The unmet medical needs of the elderly are more diverse than those of younger adults. This is because not only socioeconomic and health-related factors but also aging factors that are important to the health of the elderly are included. All factors were linked organically; therefore, integrated care is needed to improve healthcare among the elderly. To resolve these unmet healthcare needs, it is necessary to reorganize the healthcare system in Korea to include preventive and rehabilitative services that address chronic diseases in an aged society and promote life-long health promotion.