Lack of anticipated support for care for community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE to identify the factors associated with lack of anticipated support for care for community-dwelling older adults. METHOD this study presents comparison and logistic regression analyses of data from 671 individuals who took part of the multicentric study entitled "Frailty in older Brazilians" - a quantitative, epidemiologic and transversal investigation carried out between 2008 and 2009. RESULTS the subjective evaluation of anticipated support for care for community-dwelling older adults was a good indicator of risk for lack of anticipated support for care in women, older adults who live alone and those with poor self-rated health. CONCLUSION it is necessary to reflect upon the formal support system currently available for older people in Brazil, considering that those who most frequently presented lack of anticipated support for care are an increasing population. The study also highlights the importance of using subjective methods for the evaluation of the adequacy of older adults' support network.