Authors: Mauro Di Bari Alessandro Pecchioli Giampiero Mazzaglia Monica Marini Gavino Maciocco Luigi Ferrucci Niccolò Marchionni
Publish Date: 2013/07/25
Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 31-39
Abstract
Aims To characterize the epidemiology of disability in and the level of care available to older communitydwellers in an Italian urban sample Methods In a 2phase survey persons aged 65+ years randomly selected from the patients lists of 98 primary care physicians PCP were screened phase I by their PCP with a structured questionnaire to detect the presence of 1 need of help in performing Basic and 2 Instrumental Activities of Daily Living BADL IADL 3 poor vision or 4 hearing 5 weight loss 6 use of homecare services 7 selfperceived inadequacy of income Subjects reporting 2+ problems were further evaluated in facetoface structured interviews phase II Results Of 5445 participants 597 11 screened positive in phase I and 416 were interviewed in phase II Of these 4 29 19 and 49 were disabled in 1–2 IADL 3+ IADL 1–2 BADL and 3+ BADL The extent of the support network increased with disability severity p001 The 274 participants with BADL disability received most of their help from close relatives 583±25 followed by salaried assistants 205±21 other relatives 195±19 and public healthcare services 06±036 Of the 397 caregivers interviewed onethird were willing to institutionalize the older participants in case of further functional deterioration This propensity was predicted only by a selfreported poor attitude towards caring Conclusion Many severely disabled older Italians receive care in their home by highly supportive family members The level of assistance provided to them by public healthcare services is minimal
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