Functional interdependence

Abstract

Objective: The interrelationship between functional capacity, informal networks and the physical environment of the residence and residential location is used to describe age-care service utilisation and non-utilisation. Methods: Fifty-two applicants for home-care services were matched with 52 non-applicants, and 40 applicants for day-care services were matched with 40 non-applicants according to age, gender, mental status, and physical functioning. Results: Discriminant Function Analyses indicated home-care applications are related to network isolation within existing neighbourhoods and that day-care applicant networks were insufficient to accommodate challenges presented by the immediate physical environment of the residence. The physical environment of the residence also distinguished home-care applicants from day-care applicants. Conclusion: The findings support the proposed model of functional interdependence that describes service utilisation and non-utilisation as a function of the interrelationship between functional capacity and the capacity of family, friends, neighbours and communities of interest to accommodate challenges present in the elder persons residence and residential context.