Factors affecting the demand for formal long-term care of elderly : a case study in the municipality of muang district, Pathum Thani Province

Abstract

Background: Older people need long-term care due to increasing health problems. Pathum Thani Province had rising numbers of elderly; however, there was no study about formal long-term care for elderly. Objectives: To study the demand for formal long-term care of elderly and factors affecting it. Methods: Interviewed 85 elderly sampled from the Municipality of Muang District, Pathum Thani Province with questionnaires consisted of general and health data, and price scenario of different types of care. The relationship between dependent and independent variables were analyzed by repeated measure binary logistic regression. Results: Dependent elderly relied on informal long-term care. Only 1 elderly used formal home caregiver service. More of the independent elderly demanded to hire home caregiver than those who would use residential home service, even though the latter was better known. Probability of utilization of full-time, daytime home care and residential home service were 6.4, 0.3 and 0.3 percent accordingly. Higher income increased the odds of demand and higher service price decreased them like normal goods and services. Need factors increased the likelihood of using formal care, except for residential home. Other factors affecting the demand were slightly different among the three types.