Depression and Unmet Needs for Assistance With Daily Activities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Profiling the medical, functional, cognitive, and psychosocial care needs of adults assessed for home care in Ontario, Canada: The case for long-term 'life care' at home

Calls to leverage routinely collected data to inform health system improvements have been made. Misalignment between home care services and client needs can result in poor client, caregiver, and system outcomes. To inform development of an integrated model of community-based home care, grounded in a holistic definition of health, comprehensive clinical profiles were created using Ontario, Canada home care assessment data. Retrospective, cross-sectional analyses of 2017-2018 Resident Assessment Instrument Home Care (RAI-HC) assessments (n = 162,523) were completed to group home care clients by service needs and generate comprehensive profiles of each group's dominant medical, functional, cognitive, and psychosocial care needs. Six unique groups were identified, with care profiles representing home care clients living with Geriatric Syndromes, Medical Complexity, Cognitive Impairment and Behaviours, Caregiver Distress and Social Frailty. Depending on group membership, between 51% and 81% of clients had identified care needs spanning four or more Positive Health dimensions, demonstrating both the heterogeneity and complexity of clients served by home care. Comprehensive clinical profiles, developed from routinely collected assessment data, support a future-focused, evidence-informed, and community-engaged approach to research and practice in integrated home-based health and social care.

Race/Ethnicity, Nativity, and Gender Disparities in Unmet Care Needs Among Older Adults in the United States

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although disparities in disability and the unequal distribution of care resources are widely discussed in the literature, there has been less research on disparities in experiencing unmet care needs among older adults. This study aims to investigate how unmet care needs are unevenly distributed across social groups with various intersecting identities, such as race/ethnicity, nativity, and gender, although considering their care needs and care networks, drawing on the conceptual framework of the pathway to unmet needs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The data for this study came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011-2018), and the study sample consisted of 7,061 Medicare beneficiaries who needed assistance with daily activities. Questions about unmet care needs were in the form of consequences related to difficulty or lack of help with daily activities. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression models were used to predict rates of unmet needs.

RESULTS

Older adults of color, especially women, experienced higher rates of unmet care needs compared with their White and male counterparts. Although Black-White and gender differences in unmet needs were mostly explained by unequal exposures to care needs and differential care networks, Hispanic women and foreign-born Hispanic men were still at a disadvantage even after adjusting for these covariates.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

These results emphasize the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to enhance the quality of long-term services and support for older adults facing social disadvantages.

Moderating Role of Neighborhood Environment in the Associations Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Challenges Among Older Adults: Evidence From US National Study

This study examined the associations between hearing loss and cognitive challenges among community-dwelling older adults and whether neighborhood characteristics (physical disorder and low social cohesion) moderated the associations. Cross-sectional national data from Round 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study were adopted (N = 2,515). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine associations among variables and interactive analyses were conducted to examine moderating effects. Results indicated significant relationships between the experience of hearing loss and possible dementia and between severe or profound hearing loss and probable dementia. Interactive models suggested that residing in neighborhoods with physical disorder and low social cohesion were negatively associated with possible dementia among older adults with moderate and severe or profound hearing loss, respectively, compared to those without hearing loss. Findings underscore the necessity of environmental and social interventions to enhance cognitive health among older adults with varying degrees of hearing challenges.

Effect of Serious Mental Illness on Surgical Consultation and Operative Management of Older Adults with Acute Biliary Disease: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND

Mental illness is associated with worse outcomes after emergency general surgery. To understand how preoperative processes of care may influence disparate outcomes, we examined rates of surgical consultation, treatment, and operative approach between older adults with and without serious mental illness (SMI).

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a nationwide, retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65.5 years or more hospitalized via the emergency department for acute cholecystitis or biliary colic. SMI was defined as schizophrenia spectrum, mood, and/or anxiety disorders. The primary outcome was surgical consultation. Secondary outcomes included operative treatment and surgical approach (laparoscopic vs open). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine outcomes with adjustment for potential confounders related to patient demographics, comorbidities, and rates of imaging.

RESULTS

Of 85,943 included older adults, 19,549 (22.7%) had SMI. Before adjustment, patients with SMI had lower rates of surgical consultation (78.6% vs 80.2%, p < 0.001) and operative treatment (68.2% vs 71.7%, p < 0.001), but no significant difference regarding laparoscopic approach (92.0% vs 92.1%, p = 0.805). In multivariable regression models with adjustment for confounders, there was no difference in odds of receiving a surgical consultation (odds ratio 0.98 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.03]) or undergoing operative treatment (odds ratio 0.98 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.03]) for patients with SMI compared with those without SMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with SMI had similar odds of receiving surgical consultation and operative treatment as those without SMI. As such, differences in processes of care that result in SMI-related disparities likely occur before or after the point of surgical consultation in this universally insured patient population.

Everyday Discrimination, Neighborhood Perceptions, and Incidence of Activity Limitations Among Middle-Aged and Older African Americans

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the relationship between everyday discrimination, neighborhood perceptions, and the incidence of daily activity limitations (i.e., activities of daily living [ADL] and instrumental activities of daily living [IADL]) among middle-aged and older African Americans. This study also examines whether neighborhood perceptions moderate the association between discrimination and the incidence of daily activity limitations.

METHODS

Data were from the 2006 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. African Americans aged 50 or older free of ADL limitations (N = 1,934) and IADL limitations (N = 2,007) at baseline were selected. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to test the study aims. Multiple imputations were applied to handle missing data.

RESULTS

One-unit increase in everyday discrimination was associated with a 25% (p < .05) higher risk of ADL limitation onset. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and physical disadvantage moderated the association between discrimination and IADL limitation onset.

DISCUSSION

Everyday discrimination represents a significant stressor that negatively affects older African Americans' performance of daily activities. Community-level efforts that improve neighborhood perceptions are needed to alleviate the negative effects of discrimination on the incidence of activity limitations.

Unmet healthcare needs predict frailty onset in the middle-aged and older population in China: A prospective cohort analysis

Objectives

Older populations have a relatively high prevalence of unmet healthcare needs, which can result in poor health status. Moreover, in the coming century, frailty is expected to become one of the most serious global public health challenges. However, there is a lack of clear evidence proving an association between unmet healthcare needs and frailty. This study aimed to assess whether unmet healthcare needs predict the onset of frailty in China.

Methods

The association between frailty and unmet healthcare needs was explored by analyzing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) using random-effects logistic regression and Cox regression with time-varying exposure.

Results

At baseline, 7,719 respondents were included in the analysis. Random-effects logistic regression shows that unmet outpatient healthcare needs were associated with increased risk of both contemporaneous (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.35) and lagged (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.45) frailty, as were unmet inpatient needs (contemporaneous: aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.00-1.64; lagged: aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.17-2.06). For respondents not classified as frail at baseline (n = 5,392), Cox regression with time-varying exposure shows significant associations of both unmet outpatient needs (adjusted HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44) and unmet inpatient needs (adjusted HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11-1.99) with increased risk of developing frailty.

Conclusions

Reducing unmet healthcare needs would be a valuable intervention to decrease frailty risk and promote healthy aging in middle-aged and older populations. It is urgent and essential that the equity and accessibility of the medical insurance and health delivery systems be strengthened.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of unmet needs for healthcare and long-term care among older people

BACKGROUND

The absolute number of older individuals needing medical care and long-term care (LTC) is increasing globally due to the growing ageing population. However, it is uncertain who and what proportion of the population has access to care. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and reasons for unmet needs for healthcare and long-term care among older people, 65 years old and above, across countries was conducted.

METHODS

An information specialist performed a comprehensive search of four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL) from inception to June 2020 without restrictions on language and date. We did random-effects meta-analysis to obtain pooled prevalence. We stratified the meta-analysis by reasons for unmet need categorized by barrier dimension (availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability), survey year, geographic location, and socio-demographic characteristics of the older individual.

RESULTS

After screening 3912 articles, we included 101 studies published between 1996 and 2020. Of the 101 studies, 87 studies reported unmet healthcare needs and 14 studies reported unmet LTC needs. Overall, 10.4% (95% CI, 7.3-13.9) of the older population had unmet needs for healthcare. The common reasons for unmet healthcare needs were cost of treatment, lack of health facilities, lack of/conflicting time, health problem not viewed as serious, and mistrust/fear of provider. A significant variation in pooled prevalence of unmet healthcare needs due to cost was found by gender (male [10.9, 95% CI, 8.9-13.1] vs female [14.4, 95% CI, 11.8-17.3]), educational level (primary or less [13.3, 95% CI, 9.6-17.6] vs higher [7.5, 95% CI, 5.9-9.3]), self-reported health (poor [23.2, 95% CI, 18.8-27.8] vs good [4.4, 95% CI, 3.4-5.5]), insurance status (insured [9.0, 95% CI, 7.5-10.6] vs uninsured [27.7, 95% CI, 24.0-31.5]), and economic status of population (poorest [28.2, 95% CI, 14.1-44.9] vs richest [7.1, 95% CI, 3.8-11.3]). One in four (25.1, 95% CI, 17.1-34.2) older people had unmet needs in LTC. Rural residents had a higher prevalence of unmet needs in LTC compared to their urban counterparts.

CONCLUSION

With the population ageing globally, it is necessary to improve access to health care and LTC for older people. Ensuring affordability of health services, reducing geographical barriers, and improving acceptability, will be critical in reducing unmet need. Unmet needs for healthcare were concentrated in population with no education, poor economic group, outpatient health facility user, and uninsured group. With education and economic-based inequalities at the forefront, all countries should focus on improving access to health services by reducing the burden related to healthcare costs.

Gender Disparity and the Association Between Socioeconomic Status, Mental Health, and the Need for Long-Term Services and Support Among the Older Koreans

Background

Population aging-the inevitable increase in the percentage of older adults-is occurring all around the world as the fertility rate declines and life expectancy rises. This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), mental health, and the need for long-term services and support (LTSS) among Korean older adults. It also aimed to provide evidence-based information for South Korea's long-term support services and programs.

Methods

This study used the data on older adults aged over 60 years from the 2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Ultimately, 5,527 older adults were included in the database (42.6% men, 57.4% women). To clarify the association between SES, mental health, and the need for LTSS among older Korean men and women, chi-squared test, t-test, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed.

Results

The SEM analysis showed that a significant, negative association was observed between SES and the need for LTSS among these older adults-the higher SES groups would generally have less need for LTSS. Mental health had a strong, negative impact on the need for LTSS-better mental health status of the older individuals would indicate a lower need for LTSS, and the effect was stronger among older men. Meanwhile, the positive relationship between SES and mental health was verified-the higher the SES of these older adults the better their mental health.

Conclusions

Gender- and social class-sensitive impacts of mental health on the need for LTSS were observed in this study. These findings could provide an evidence-based reference for interventions targeting different genders and social classes in Korea's long-term care system, such as the enhancement of social welfare and mental health status of the older adults.

Simultaneous employment and depressive symptom trajectories around retirement age in Chile

Objectives: Over the last decade, an increasing number of empirical studies have examined long-term patterns of depression among adults around retirement age and identified employment status as a crucial determinant. However, most research has examined associations between cross-sectional measures of employment and prospective depression patterns, overlooking the changing nature of employment statuses, particularly close to retirement age. Furthermore, most knowledge in this field comes from studies conducted in developed countries in Western Europe and North America. To address these gaps, this study examined simultaneous trajectories in the employment and depressive symptom domains among two age groups of Chileans before and after the standard retirement age. Method: Using population-representative data and longitudinal statistical methods, we identified different trajectory types among two age groups (one aged 56-65 and another aged 66-75, at baseline) and characterized them according to social and health characteristics.Results: We found that trajectories defined by permanent employment were accompanied by lower depressive symptoms than trajectories indicating either retirement or inactivity. However, trajectories combining employment and the absence of depressive symptoms were primarily followed by individuals with advantaged health and social statuses at the baseline. Conclusion: Public policies aimed at promoting the mental health of older adults through their labor market integration risk forcing individuals who have accumulated social and health disadvantages across the life course to work longer.

Examining Consequences Related to Unmet Care Needs Across the Long-Term Care Continuum

OBJECTIVES

To examine how different care arrangements across the long-term care continuum are associated with experiencing unmet care need consequences (UCNCs), such as skipping meals, going without clean clothes, or taking the wrong medication.

METHODS

We include older adults receiving assistance with at least one self-care, mobility, or household activity (for health/functioning reasons) in the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 2,388). We examine the likelihood of experiencing a UCNC across the long-term care continuum: those receiving unpaid community care only, paid community care, and residential care. Cross-sectional logistic and longitudinal multinomial logistic regression models examine if type of care arrangement in 2015 is associated with UCNCs in 2015 and change in UCNCs by 2017.

RESULTS

In adjusted cross-sectional models, paid community care recipients had roughly 2 times greater odds of experiencing a UCNC in 2015 compared to those living in residential care or receiving only unpaid care. In adjusted longitudinal models, the risk of experiencing persistent UCNCs (compared to having needs met in both years) was 4.81 times higher for those receiving paid community care compared to those in residential care and 2.17 times that of those receiving unpaid care only.

DISCUSSION

Older adults receiving paid care face significant and consequential gaps in care, particularly in comparison to those in other care arrangements. More attention is needed to determine how paid care arrangements can be improved and/or expanded to meet the needs of the growing number of older adults receiving paid care in the community.

Perceived unmet needs for community-based long-term care services among urban older adults: A cross sectional study

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived unmet needs for community-based long-term care services among older urban adults in China. We analyzed the cross-sectional data of 5,201 urban community respondents ≥65 years of age from the seventh wave of the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The chi-squared automatic interaction detection technique was used to examine the variables associated with older adults' unmet needs for four common types of community-based services: personal care, grocery shopping, home visits, and psychological consulting. We found that the majority of the older adults perceived that they needed the four services, but only 9%-27.4% of the respondents reported that their perceived needs were met. There was a high prevalence of unmet community-based service needs (51.3%-55.5%) among urban older adults in China. Factors associated with unmet needs included depression status, ADL (activities of daily living) limitations, self-rated health, number of surviving children, educational attainment, and marital status. The results suggest that policy makers should develop services targeting specific segments of the older population, increasing the adequacy of services provided.

Neighborhood Social Cohesion, Physical Disorder, and Daily Activity Limitations Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

INTRODUCTION

Although extensive factors have been examined for limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), it remains unclear as to the impacts of neighborhood-level factors on ADL and IADL limitations. Thus, we aim to examine whether neighborhood characteristics are predictive of limitations in ADL and IADL.

METHODS

A total of 7,407 participants were selected from the National Health and Aging Trend Study. We used data from round 1 (2011) to round 8 (2018). Neighborhood characteristics were measured as social cohesion and physical disorder. Daily activity limitations were counted based on the domains of ADL and IADL. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression analyses were performed to estimate the effects of neighborhood features on ADL and IADL limitations.

RESULTS

Better neighborhood social cohesion significantly predicted less limitations in ADL (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96 - 0.99) and IADL (IRR=0.96, 95% CI = 0.95 - 0.98). More physical disorder predicted more IADL limitations (IRR=1.04, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.06), but was not associated with ADL limitations.

CONCLUSION

Neighborhood social cohesion is essential in enabling older adults to perform both basic self-care activities and more complex tasks, while neighborhood physical disorder is significant to older adults' capability in performing more complex sets of activities so as to age in place. The study findings underscore the importance of improving both social and physical aspects of neighborhood environment to facilitate older adults' daily activity performance.

Reported Needs and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Entering Long-Term Services and Supports

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Long-term services and supports (LTSS) are vital for older adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. LTSS can be provided in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living, or via community-based services. During the transition to LTSS, older adults are at risk of increased depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults may identify unmet needs despite having access to new LTSS resources. The goal of this study was to examine the factors associated with increased depressive symptoms among a pool of older adults, with a focus on change in reported needs after starting LTSS.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study included 352 older adults new to LTSS (R01AG025524). The outcome of depressive symptoms was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form. Reported needs included supportive equipment, devices, transportation, and social activities. Bivariate and linear regression modeling using change in needs 3 months later were performed.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were present among 40% of the LTSS recipients at enrollment and 3 months. At baseline, 29% of LTSS recipients reported a need for supportive equipment, 30% for transportation, and 23% for social activities. After 3 months, an average of 12% of LTSS recipients' needs were met, 13% of LTSS recipients' needs persisted, and 11% of LTSS recipients reported new needs. Depressive symptoms 3 months later were higher for those who reported persistent unmet needs compared with those who reported no needs at all, controlling for functional status and LTSS type.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The transition to LTSS is a vulnerable time for older adults. Assessing the need for equipment, transportation, and social activities during this period may identify opportunities to improve the lives and emotional status of this population.

Everyday Life Construction, Outdoor Activity and Health Practice among Urban Empty Nesters and Their Companion Dogs in Guangzhou, China

In this paper, we argue that research on the everyday life of older people needs to move beyond anthropocentrism because non-human support contributes to the diversity of their social networks. We elaborate this argument by examining how companion dogs are involved in the urban empty-nest family in Guangzhou (an aging and highly urbanized city in China), the building of multispecies kinships by urban empty nesters in later life and improving the health of urban empty nesters. Participatory observations and 20 in-depth interviews were combined to assess the association between dog ownership and the reconstruction of later life. Specifically, we focus on the co-disciplined pursuit of outdoor activities by urban empty nesters and their companion dogs; this pursuit represents a shared leisure practice that maintains multispecies kinship and is a creative way for older individuals to improve their happiness and physical functioning. This paper provides a relational and reflective understanding of the interaction between the urban empty nesters and companion dogs and the implications of this interaction in the urban leisure space.

Risk Factors for Depression in Empty Nesters: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Coastal City of Zhejiang Province and China

The elderly are susceptible to depression, especially empty nesters. This study investigated the risk factors associated with depression in empty nesters. The participants were selected via multi-stage random cluster sampling. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The questionnaire surveyed demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, behaviors and lifestyles, negative life experiences, social support, self-care ability, etc. Chronic health conditions, such as being overweight/obese, smoking cessation, cancer, and chronic pain, as well as negative life experiences, such as the death of a loved one and financial loss, increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. In addition, the incapability of performing self-care also increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. The prevalence of depression in empty nesters was high. Being overweight/obese, cancer, chronic pain, smoking cessation, the death of a loved one, financial loss, and the incapability to deliver self-care were risk factors for depression in empty nesters. It is recommended that comprehensive measures be taken to enhance health interventions for this population, including encouraging a proper diet and physical activity for weight control, providing psychological counseling after negative life experiences, and teaching correct methods of smoking cessation.

Anxiety and Unmet Needs for Assistance With Daily Activities Among Older Adults

Objective: To examine the potentially bidirectional relationship between anxiety symptoms and unmet needs for assistance with daily activities among older adults. Method: Data came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2011 through 2016 surveys. The study sample consisted of 3,936 Medicare beneficiaries with activity limitations at baseline, aged 65 or older. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to test the proposed relationship between anxiety symptoms and unmet needs for assistance with daily activities. Result: Having unmet needs increased the risk of the onset of anxiety symptoms, and elevated anxiety symptoms increased the risk of incident unmet needs for assistance with daily activities. Conclusion: Anxiety symptoms and unmet needs form a bidirectional relationship. Integrated mental health and community-based long-term care services may help reduce the burden of late-life anxiety disorders and stressful life incidents contributing to disability.

When More Than Exercise Is Needed to Increase Chances of Aging in Place: Qualitative Analysis of a Telehealth Physical Activity Program to Improve Mobility in Low-Income Older Adults

Background

A telehealth-delivered physical activity program was implemented within two low-income older adult housing properties utilizing the Otago exercise program, a physical therapy program endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve balance and strengthening in community dwelling older adults and by the National Council on Aging as the highest level of evidence for fall prevention programs. Participants were also given Fitbit activity monitors to help track their activity.

Objective

The goal of this project was to increase older adults’ daily physical activity in hopes of decreasing chronic disease morbidity, disability, and falls, and decrease social isolation.

Methods

The Otago exercise program was conducted via telehealth twice weekly for 12 weeks. Participants also wore Fitbit activity trackers to encourage physical activity outside of the group classes. Postintervention qualitative interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using discourse analysis.

Results

Twenty-one older adult participants from two low-income properties in Charleston, SC, participated in the 12-week telehealth physical therapy program. Postintervention qualitative interviews revealed that the two sites were very different in their participation in the program and their main concerns surrounding aging in place. One site had a community-oriented outlook and enjoyed participating in physical activity together; whereas, the other site had very few participants and referenced depression and social isolation as main concerns.

Conclusions

A telehealth physical therapy-led intervention to increase physical activity in low-income older adults aging in place was successfully implemented and attended; however, it became clear in postintervention qualitative interviews that social isolation and depression were prevalent and mental health needs to be addressed along with physical health to encourage successful aging in place.