Who can imagine being cared for by relatives? : Results of arepresentative survey of 65-75-year-olds in aregion in southern Germany

Abstract

The number of people in need of care will continue to increase in the coming years due to demographic change. In order to ensure high-quality and needs-oriented nursing care, preferences related to nursing need to be taken into consideration. This paper aims 1)to describe the care preferences related to nursing care of 65-75-year-olds and 2)to identify predictors for the preference to be cared for by relatives. Arepresentative population survey of 65-75-year-olds in aregion in southern Germany was conducted (n = 625). Data are presented descriptively and analyzed bivariately and multivariately (χ2-tests; logistic regression) with respect to preferences for informal care. The majority of respondents prefer long-term care at home; for most participants, professional assistance is preferred. In addition, respondents had apositive attitude towards alternative forms of living (e.g., multigenerational living or shared housing for the old). Significant predictors for the preference of informal care were male gender, the presence of other persons living in the household, willingness to provide care on one's own, and lack of aprofessional degree. The preference to provide care in the home environment poses challenges for informal and formal caregivers as well as for those in need of care themselves, which can lead to tension between expectations and possibilities. In order to ensure sustainable and user-oriented long-term care, it is therefore necessary to further improve quality and quantity of outpatient care.