Health Policy Manag.  2023 Jun;33(2):141-156. 10.4332/KJHPA.2023.33.2.141.

Characteristics Related to Elderly Personsʼ Willingness to Live in a Nursing Home with Mobility Problems

• Hong D
• Park S
• Kimm H
• Kwon L
• Chung W

• KMID: 2549094
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2023.33.2.141

Abstract

Background
As the population rapidly ages, older adults are increasingly likely to experience mobility problems. This study aims to explore the characteristics related to an elderly person’s willingness to live in a nursing home if they have mobility problems Methods: This study analyzed data from 9,917 older adults (5,976 young-old and 3,941 old-old) obtained from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. The dependent variable was the intended place of residence for older adults with mobility problems. Independent variables included various characteristics: (1) sociodemographic and social support, (2) health and functional status, and (3) residential environment. Rao-Scott chi-square tests and survey logistic regression analyses were performed for the young-old and old-old, respectively.
Results
The intention to live in a nursing home was significantly different between the young-old (30.4%) and the old-old (34.7%) (p=0.009). According to fully adjusted multivariable analyses, for the young-old, the odds ratio of intending to live in a nursing home was significantly higher in social security benefit recipients (1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.97) compared to other individuals. The odds ratio was higher in unmarried (divorced, separated, widowed, or never-married) individuals for both young-old (1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.63) and old-old (1.34; 95% CI, 1.09–1.65) age groups, compared to their respective married counterparts.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that in an aging society, health and social policies should be designed considering the different characteristics of the elderly to improve their health, function, and quality of life.

Keyword

Aging in place; Nursing homes; Young-old; Old-old; National Survey of Older Koreans; Republic of Korea