A little help from a friend or relative can help keep seniors out of nursing homes following hospitalization or diagnosis or a life-threatening illness. That’s the finding from a new study from researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. Those with support reduced their risk of requiring institutional care over a two-year period from 14.2% to 10.9%.
The researchers tracked data from nearly 4,800 adults enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, which assessed changes in disability, health and wealth as participants transitioned from work to retirement. The UCSF cohort was restricted to people over age 65 who lived alone in the community and managed activities of daily living.
Researchers found 68% of study participants experienced a sudden adverse change in their health status. Among those living alone, 38% could not identify a friend or family member to help them in the event of a serious health issue.
“I think they are quite vulnerable. We see it in the hospital all the time,” he said. “We admit people who could be OK at home if they only had a little support,” lead author Sachin Shah, M.D., from the UCSF Division of Hospital Medicine, said.
Researchers offered possible solutions, including public programs that would match older adults requiring assistance with paid caregivers or offer compensation to friends or family members who provide care.
“This would be in keeping with the preferences of most older adults to remain in their homes, and would reduce the tremendous cost of institutional care both to older adults and to insurers,” Shah said.
