Life on the edge: Patterns of formal and informal help to older adults in the United States and Sweden

Adam Davey, Elia E. Femia, Steven H. Zarit, Dennis G. Shea, Gerdt Sundström, Stig Berg, Michael A. Smyer, Jyoti Savla

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives. Our objective in this study was to compare assistance received by individuals in the United States and Sweden with characteristics associated with low, moderate, or high 1-year placement risk in the United States. Methods. We used longitudinal nationally representative data from 4,579 participants aged 75 years and older in the 1992 and 1993 waves of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) and cross-sectional data from 1,379 individuals aged 75 years and older in the Swedish Aging at Home (AH) national survey for comparative purposes. We developed a logistic regression equation using U.S. data to identify individuals with 3 levels (low, moderate, or high) of predicted 1-year institutional placement risk. Groups with the same characteristics were identified in the Swedish sample and compared on formal and informal assistance received. Results. Formal service utilization was higher in Swedish sample, whereas informal service use is lower overall. Individuals with characteristics associated with high placement risk received more formal and less informal assistance in Sweden relative to the United States. Discussion. Differences suggest formal services supplement informal support in the United States and that formal and informal services are complementary in Sweden.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S281-S288
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume60
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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