Factors affecting long-term care use in Hong Kong

Abstract

Key Messages: 1. Psychological factors play the most significant role in contributing to long-term care choices. Older people’s positive attitude towards community care services (CCS) and strong structural solidarity of the family are two key factors. 2. Stronger family structural solidarity is associated with the use of CCS, whereas family structural solidarity tends to be confined to nuclear families rather than intergenerational families, which implies that spouse and children caregivers have different needs. Caregiver support services targeting the elderly couple’s families and children as caregivers should be differentiated and more specifically targeted. 3. In general, CCS serve frail elders with acute rehabilitation needs, who are more likely to be cared for by family members and/or domestic helpers, whereas residential care services serve frail elders with a higher level of cognitive impairment.