Trajectories of Community-Based Service Use: The Importance of Poverty and Living Arrangements

J Gerontol Soc Work. 2017 Jul;60(5):355-376. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2017.1328477. Epub 2017 May 10.

Abstract

This study examined how older adults' living arrangements and poverty status affected their use of in-home health, functional, and out-of-home services over time. Using eight waves of data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, we employed a logistic mixed-effect model to analyze how poverty and living arrangements affect community-based service use. Living-alone older adults and elder-only couples were more likely than co-residing households to use services. Elder-only couples, when poor, were more likely to use in-home and out-of-home services over time. Understanding predictors of community-based service use over time enables researchers and policymakers to better understand the process of aging-in-place.

Keywords: Community-based service; living arrangement; poverty.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living / psychology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Community Health Services / methods*
  • Community Health Services / standards*
  • Community Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Employment / standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Poverty / psychology*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Social Support