This study explores the practice of two types of functional adaptations (home modifications and equipment use) among the elderly within the framework of Andersen’s behavioral model. The focus of this research compares the importance of health status as necessitating functional adaptations with the importance of financial resources as enabling the use of functional adaptations. Analysis was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 3,485 noninstitutionalized adults age 65 and older. Following the Andersen behavioral model, groups of predisposing, enabling and need variables were all considered. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore these relationships. Variables in the behavioral model explained 24 percent of the variance in home modification use and 29 percent of the variance in equipment use, according to the Nagelkerke pseudo R-squared. Predisposing variables were generally not important predictors, although gender and age did demonstrate some relationship. Health related variables (need characteristics) were consistently important in predicting functional adaptations. Subjective income measures and supplemental insurance were particularly important among the financial (enabling) variables. The importance of the health variables lends support to the "additive hypothesis" discussed in previous literature that increased needs translates into increased use of adaptations among the elderly. An understudied area has been more thorough explanations of use of functional adaptations. Psychological and need variables have received greater attention in many studies, but we suggest that the impact of enabling (financial) variables should be considered along with other groups of variables.
Learning Objectives: Increase the understanding of the effects of health status and financial resources on functional adaptations of the elderly. Increase understanding of the application of the behavioral model to functional adaptations of the elderly.
Keywords: Health Behavior, Elderly
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.