ANALYSIS OF FACTORS IN FAMILY DECISION-MAKING FOR NURSING HOME PLACEMENT (COMMUNITY CARE, FAMILY BURDEN).
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1983
Number of pages: 188
Subjects: Gerontology.
Description: The problem addressed by this study was the determination of appropriate long term care placement of the elderly. Three kinds of influences affect placement: societal influences, such as public policies and programs, individual characteristics of the elderly, and factors within the family support system. This study focused on the area of family support. The purpose of the study was to compare actual burden (experienced by individuals who describe themselves as assuming responsibility for the care of an elderly family member), and feelings of burden (expressed by these family caretakers) as predictors of nursing home placement.

Feelings of burden were hypothesized to be better predictors of nursing home placement because feelings could be derived from the burden of caretaking and from other sources such as the relationship with the elder and attitude. Regression Analysis was used to determine a prediction equation for placement of the elder in a nursing home or in a community care program. Variables were included to measure functional status of the elder, time conflict, socioeconomic status, social support systems, length of caretaking, and feelings of burden. Additionally attitude toward nursing homes and ethnic group were included in the analysis.

The sample was drawn from the persons listed as the responsible party for Texas Medicaid elderly clients admitted to a community care or nursing home program between April 15 and May 15, 1983. A single mailing of 1015 questionnaires produced a response rate of 34%.

Feelings of burden as measured for this study were found not to be predictive of nursing home placement. Ten out of 30 variables entered into the prediction equation with a significance of less than .05. Consistent with the hypothesis, ADL, IADL, and Behavior problems were positively related to nursing home placement. Number of adults in the household and the use of paid services correlated positively with community care programs. Contrary to the hypothesis low income correlated more with community care programs. Daughters as caretakers and Hispanic caretakers were related to community care. Negative attitudes toward nursing homes were related to community care. Assuming partially responsible for additional elders was related to community care.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-03, Section: A, page: 0909.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1983.

School code: 0227.