Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with the anticipated support for care of 671 community-dwelling older adults in the city of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This study utilized the data from the cross-sectional multicentre research network called �Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults� (FIBRA) (2008-2009). Anticipated support for care was assessed with a dichotomise question (yes or no): �If you need help to develop your activities of daily living, can you think in some one that would help you?�. If yes, it was asked how many people the older person believed that were available. Other variables of interest were: levels of frailty, self-rated health, sociodemographic conditions, levels of dependence and self-reported number of diseases. Descriptive and correlational (chisquare or F-test) analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate logistical regression were performed (IC 95%, p=0.05). Results: Female gender had worst socio-demographic conditions, poor perception of health, higher levels of dependence, more diseases, and lack of anticipated support for care. If they had someone to help them, in most of the cases just one person was referred. Advanced age was significantly associated with living alone and higher dependence for instrumental activities of daily living. The majority reported �good or very good� health, irrespective of their age, although women were the majority in the group of �bad or very bad� perception. In the univariate regression, female gender (OR: 2.06; 0.020), who lived alone (OR: 3.07; <0.001) and who had poor self-rated health (OR: 3.21; 0.004) showed greater risk for lack anticipated support for care. In multivariate levels, living alone (OR: 3.36; <0.001) and poor self-rated health (OR: 3.74; 0.002) continued significant, even when controlling by gender and age. Levels of frailty were not significantly associated with any variable studied. Conclusion: Brazilian older people in risk for lack of anticipated support are women, living alone and with poor self-rated health. It is necessary that health and social professionals identify those people in the community and provide them the necessary support or interventions. Also, it is necessary to reflect upon the formal support available to these people that do not have a family member to help them.

Biography

Deborah C Oliveira graduated in 2009 with Bachelor and Teaching degrees in Nursing at the University of Campinas (Brazil). She then completed an MSc in Health Studies with anticipated support for care of community-dwelling older adults in a multicentre epidemiological study (FIBRA) in Brazil. She is currently in her second year�s PhD research at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) focused on the quality of life of older family carers of people with dementia. She has experience with research in quality of life, dementia, family carers, older adults and social support.