Abstract

MOYA MARTINEZ, Pablo et al. Costs associated to informal caregiving hours for older people living in rural communities [Spain]. Gac Sanit [online]. 2009, vol.23, n.2, pp.109-114. ISSN 0213-9111.

Objectives: To determine the costs associated with the variables that best predict hours of informal care among people living at home with some level of dependency for activities of daily living (ADL).Methods: We performed a crosssectional observational study of 241 men and women aged more than 64 years old living in rural communities (men 37.8%, women 62.2%). The mean (standard deviation) age was 81.07 (7.07) years. Through the Resident Assessment Instrument Home Care (RAI-HC) questionnaire, sociodemographic variables, ADL dependencies and caregiving hours were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied.Results: The predictive variables in the multiple linear regression model were living alone and requiring assistance for eating, meal preparation, bed mobility, and outdoor mobility. These predictive variables explained 46.3% of the total variation in caregiving hours. Standardized b coefficients were obtained from needing help to eat (0.272) and prepare meals (0.205). Needing help to eat represented an increment of 275 annual caregiving hours and its associated cost was 2,406.15 €/year. Becoming dependent for meal preparation represented an increment of 307.2h and a cost of 2688.18€/year. Dependency had a cost of between 4,972.72 and 21,479.15€/year, depending on ADL limitations.Conclusions: Almost 50% of the costs related to the care giving hours that may be required by an elderly person with some degree of dependency can be attributed to the fact of living alone and to some ADL that can be easily evaluated, such as eating, cooking, bed mobility, and outdoor mobility.

Keywords : Aging; Dependency; Informal caregiving hours; Cost; Home care.

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