Health-related Quality of Life Factors among Frail Elders in the US

This study used longitudinal data based on the 1989
and 1994 National Long term Care Survey (NLTCS) to
examine factors associated with health-related
quality of life indicators among frail elders living
in the community in the US. The study introduced use
of the revised health capital model,as a conceptual
framework for predicting frail elder s health-
related quality of life. Using step-wise linear
regression and logistic regression, four groups of
health capital factors were analyzed for their
effects on seven current health-related quality of
life outcome indicators. Findings indicated that
better current health-related quality-of-life
outcomes among community-dwelling frail elders were
explained by greater previous health capital,a
lower level of impairment,fewer helpers,more face-
to-face contacts with relatives and/or friends per
month, and having Medicaid and/or a private health
plan. Having previous depressive symptoms (a
covariate) and the number of helpers were the most
powerful predictors respectively. Based on these
findings,the implications for social policy and
social work practice are discussed.

Autorentext
Dr. Yun-Tung Wang, Assistant Professor in National Taiwan University, Social Work Department, got his Ph.D. degree from Columbia University, School of Social Work in 2001. His research focuses on welfare for the people with disabilities gerontology,and cost-benefit analysis in social policy.

Klappentext
This study used longitudinal data based on the 1989 and 1994 National Long term Care Survey (NLTCS) to examine factors associated with health-related quality of life indicators among frail elders living in the community in the US. The study introduced use of the revised health capital model,as a conceptual framework for predicting frail elder's health- related quality of life. Using step-wise linear regression and logistic regression, four groups of health capital factors were analyzed for their effects on seven current health-related quality of life outcome indicators. Findings indicated that better current health-related quality-of-life outcomes among community-dwelling frail elders were explained by greater previous health capital,a lower level of impairment,fewer helpers,more face- to-face contacts with relatives and/or friends per month, and having Medicaid and/or a private health plan. Having previous depressive symptoms (a covariate) and the number of helpers were the most powerful predictors respectively. Based on these findings,the implications for social policy and social work practice are discussed.