Living at home or in an institution: what makes the difference for seniors?

OBJECTIVES This article examines some of the health and socio-demographic factors associated with living in long-term health care facilities rather than in private households, for elderly people with various levels of disability. DATA SOURCE The data are from the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada. Data from a sample of 1,711 people aged 65 or older living in long-term health care facilities and 13,363 in private households were weighted to represent about 185,100 and 3.4 million seniors, respectively. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Descriptive data were produced using bivariate frequencies. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine associations between living in long-term health care facilities and selected health and socio-demographic characteristics for seniors with self-reported severe, moderate or no disability. MAIN RESULTS While health status was strongly associated with residence in a long-term health care facility, the absence of a spouse, low income, low education, and advanced age were also significant.