Formal and Informal Care Use Over the Course of Cognitive Deterioration Among Adults With a Disability (original) (raw)

The dynamics between formal and informal care among persons with a disability may substantially differ over the course of their cognitive decline. Based on a nationally representative study of older adults, the analysis sample included 3,685 individuals who had at least one activity of daily living (ADL) limitation. We estimated probabilities of using formal care and informal care in the years before and over the course of dementia after controlling for sociodemographic factors, survey mode, and proxy interview status. The adjusted probability of receiving care from an informal helper increased before the onset of dementia: 36% in 4 years prior to the onset (T=-4); 46% at T=-2. In contrast, the increase in the probability of using formal care was pronounced primarily at the onset of dementia; for example, the probability of overnight nursing home stay was 12% at T=-2 vs. 31% at T=0, which continued to increase over the subsequent years (39% at T=6). The probability of using nursing ...