Comparison of social support network and expectation of care among elderly persons with different home arrangements

Abstract Objective: To compare the social support network and expectation of care among elderly persons who live alone and those who live with others. Method: A cross-sectional study with 348 elderly people living in the community in the municipal region of Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, Brazil was performed. The elderly were interviewed using a questionnaire composed of socio-demographic issues; evaluation tools of basic and instrumental activities of daily living; and care expectation and perceived social support network. The data were submitted to descriptive and comparative statistical analysis, the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test at a significance level of 5%. Results: Most of the interviewees were younger elderly women. Of these,14.66% lived alone and 85.34% lived with other people, with mainly bi-generation family arrangements. The majority stated that they had fair health, had up to two diseases, were dependent in instrumental activities of daily living and independent in self-care activities. Elderly persons who lived with others relied on their family, and the expectation of care was aimed at a daughter or daughter-in-law; while those who lived alone expected to rely on neighbors or friends to help with their tasks, if needed. Conclusion: Family members are the greatest providers of support and care, and the elderly hope to count on them when they need help in carrying out basic and instrumental activities of daily living.摘要 研究目的：对比独居与同住老年人的社会支持网络及照护期待。 研究方法：本研究为横断面研究（cross-sectional study），在巴西马托格罗索州瓦尔泽亚格兰德市辖区的社区老年人群中开展，共纳入348名研究对象。采用涵盖社会人口学资料、日常生活基本活动与工具性日常生活活动（instrumental activities of daily living）评估工具、照护期待及感知社会支持网络（social support network）相关内容的问卷对老年人进行访谈。数据采用描述性与比较性统计分析，显著性水平设定为5%，检验方法选用卡方检验（chi-squared test）或Fisher确切概率法（Fisher’s exact test）。 研究结果：受访对象以低龄老年女性为主，其中14.66%为独居老年人，85.34%与他人同住，家庭结构以两代同居模式为主。多数受访者自评健康状况一般，罹患不超过2种疾病，工具性日常生活活动依赖，而日常生活自理活动独立。与他人同住的老年人主要依赖家庭照护，照护期待主要指向女儿或儿媳；而独居老年人则期望在必要时依靠邻居或朋友协助完成日常事务。 研究结论：家庭成员是老年人最主要的支持与照护提供者，当老年人需要开展日常生活基本活动与工具性活动时，均期望能够依靠家庭成员获得帮助。