Family networks: predictors of nursing home entry

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 84; no. 5; pp. 843 - 845
• Main Authors: Freedman, V A, Berkman, L F, Rapp, S R, Ostfeld, A M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.05.1994; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Admissions; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis. Health state; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Connecticut; Elderly people; Epidemiology; Families & family life; Family; Family networks; Female; General aspects; Humans; Institutionalization; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; New Haven; Nursing homes; Nursing Homes - statistics & numerical data; Older people; Patient Admission; Predictions; Predictors; Prospective Studies; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Social research; Social Support; United States; North America; America; Connecticut; Human; Hospital admission; Family environment; Familial relation; Social network; Homes for the aged; Epidemiology; Elderly; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.84.5.843

Despite the importance of kin in caring for older relatives, few studies have examined the relationship between the family network and the risk of nursing home placement. Data from a cohort of noninstitutionalized elderly persons living in New Haven in 1982 were used to predict nursing home admission through 1985. Logistic regression analyses show that older persons who have regular contact with kin have a lower risk of institutionalization. For men, the spouse is most important in reducing the risk of entry; for women, having regular contact with at least one family member--of any relation--reduces the risk of entry.