AUTHOR=Buczak-Stec Elżbieta W. , Hajek André , Pabst Alexander , Brettschneider Christian , van den Bussche Hendrik , Wiese Birgitt , Weyerer Siegfried , Werle Jochen , Hoell Andreas , Pentzek Michael , Fuchs Angela , Luppa Melanie , Löbner Margit , Stein Janine , Förster Franziska , Weeg Dagmar , Mösch Edelgard , Heser Kathrin , Scherer Martin , Maier Wolfgang , Angermeyer Matthias C. , Wagner Michael , Riedel-Heller Steffi G. , König Hans-Helmut TITLE=Frequency and gender differences in the use of professional home care in late life. Findings from three German old-age cohorts JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.924818 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.924818 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of and the gender differences in the use of professional home care in Germany.

Methods

We used harmonized data from three large cohort studies from Germany (“Healthy Aging: Gender-specific trajectories into the latest life”; AgeDifferent.de Platform). Data were available for 5,393 older individuals (75 years and older). Mean age was 80.2 years (SD: 4.1 years), 66.6% were female. Professional homecare outcome variables were use of outpatient nursing care, paid household assistance, and meals on wheels' services. Logistic regression models were used, adjusting for important sociodemographic variables.

Results

Altogether 5.2% of older individuals used outpatient nursing care (6.2% women and 3.2% men; p < 0.001), 24.2% used paid household assistance (26.1% women and 20.5% men; p < 0.001) and 4.4% used meals on wheels' services (4.5% women and 4.0% men; p = 0.49). Regression analysis revealed that women had higher odds of using paid household assistance than men (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: [1.24–1.76]; p < 0.001), whereas they had lower odds of using meals on wheels' services (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: [0.42–0.97]; p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in using outpatient nursing care between women and men were found (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: [0.87–1.81]; p = 0.225). Further, the use of home care was mainly associated with health-related variables (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease) and walking impairments.

Conclusions

Our study showed that gender differences exist in using paid household assistance and in culinary dependency. For example, meals on wheels' services are of great importance (e.g., for individuals living alone or for individuals with low social support). Gender differences were not identified regarding outpatient nursing care. Use of professional home care services may contribute to maintaining autonomy and independence in old age.