Effectiveness of the continuum of care to promote older people's quality of life in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objectives. The study aimed to investigate recipients’ adaptation of older care and the effectiveness of care services by comparing care recipients’ quality of life during transitions across the continuum over time. This continuum ideally describes an older adult’s successive use of social centre services, community care, and residential care. Methods. Three thousand older adults were surveyed using a comprehensive measure of quality of life. Results. Current users of residential care displayed the highest quality of life. In contrast, older care recipients who experienced transitions to community care exhibited the lowest quality of life. However, their quality of life increased with a longer duration of community care. Conclusion. Problems of adaptation tend to be responsible for the lower quality of life due to care transition. In contrast, increased adaptation with a longer time reverses the risk into fortune.