Influence of Home Care on Life Satisfaction, Loneliness, and Perceived Life Stress

Abstract

Strong evidence has established the medical and health services utilization benefits of home care services for older adults. However, sparse research has been conducted on potential psychosocial benefits. Older adults (65 and over) receiving home care with their needs met are compared with persons who have unmet needs (whether they received home care or not) on three key indicators of quality of life – life satisfaction, loneliness, and perceived life stress. Data are drawn from the 2008-2009 Canadian Community Health Survey respondents who met the study criteria (n = 3,244). Regression analyses showed that older adults who had their home care needs met reported higher levels of life satisfaction, and lower levels of loneliness and perceived life stress, than those with unmet needs, net of co-variates. The results suggest that filling this home care gap would significantly raise quality of life by increasing social and environmental resilience to age in place.

No Place Like Home: A Systematic Review of Home Care for Older Adults in Canada

“…A national study reported that approximately 40 per cent of home care recipients had unmet needs related to social interaction, mobility, and physical activity (Turcotte, 2014). Contrary to this study, Kadowaki, Wister, and Chappel (2015) reported that 71.4 per cent of older adults receiving home care had their needs met with higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of loneliness, and perceived life stress, whereas only 28.6 per cent had unmet home care needs. Given this difference between the two studies, more research is required to examine home care satisfaction among older adults.…”

No Place Like Home: A Systematic Review of Home Care for Older Adults in Canada

“…A national study reported that approximately 40 per cent of home care recipients had unmet needs related to social interaction, mobility, and physical activity (Turcotte, 2014). Contrary to this study, Kadowaki, Wister, and Chappel (2015) reported that 71.4 per cent of older adults receiving home care had their needs met with higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of loneliness, and perceived life stress, whereas only 28.6 per cent had unmet home care needs. Given this difference between the two studies, more research is required to examine home care satisfaction among older adults.…”

Trends in Quality of Life for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Across Living and Care Arrangements, 2008–2022

“…In contrast, individuals without reported caregiving support showed a decline in the prevalence of high purpose in life over time, along with higher loneliness and lower life satisfaction compared to individuals with caregiving support. These patterns align with previous studies [ 9 , 24 ] and suggest that home care may play a meaningful role in improving QoL by providing emotional support, reducing isolation and the burden of daily activities, and promoting independence [ 9 ]. Conversely, individuals without caregiving support may face multiple stressors, including limited access to care, social isolation, and financial difficulties [ 25 ], which can undermine life satisfaction and a sustained sense of purpose.…”

The Impact of Cohousing on Older Adults’ Quality of Life

“…Residents' socioeconomic status and satisfaction with their QOL in the building concur with findings from Glass's (2016) study. The residents' feeling of belonging in the community resulted in the highest score on the environmental domain on the WHOQOL-BREF survey and concurs with past research that older adults' living environment influences their QOL, with older adults living in the community having more independence and higher quality of life than those in institutions (Bielderman, et al, 2015;Kadowski, Wister, & Chappell, 2015;Stones, Kozma, McNeil, & Worobetz, 2011;Turan, Yanardag, & Aras, 2012).…”

No Place Like Home: A Systematic Review of Home Care for Older Adults in Canada

“…A national study reported that approximately 40 per cent of home care recipients had unmet needs related to social interaction, mobility, and physical activity (Turcotte, 2014). Contrary to this study, Kadowaki, Wister, and Chappel (2015) reported that 71.4 per cent of older adults receiving home care had their needs met with higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of loneliness, and perceived life stress, whereas only 28.6 per cent had unmet home care needs. Given this difference between the two studies, more research is required to examine home care satisfaction among older adults.…”

Trends in Quality of Life for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Across Living and Care Arrangements, 2008–2022

“…In contrast, individuals without reported caregiving support showed a decline in the prevalence of high purpose in life over time, along with higher loneliness and lower life satisfaction compared to individuals with caregiving support. These patterns align with previous studies [ 9 , 24 ] and suggest that home care may play a meaningful role in improving QoL by providing emotional support, reducing isolation and the burden of daily activities, and promoting independence [ 9 ]. Conversely, individuals without caregiving support may face multiple stressors, including limited access to care, social isolation, and financial difficulties [ 25 ], which can undermine life satisfaction and a sustained sense of purpose.…”

The Impact of Cohousing on Older Adults’ Quality of Life

“…Residents' socioeconomic status and satisfaction with their QOL in the building concur with findings from Glass's (2016) study. The residents' feeling of belonging in the community resulted in the highest score on the environmental domain on the WHOQOL-BREF survey and concurs with past research that older adults' living environment influences their QOL, with older adults living in the community having more independence and higher quality of life than those in institutions (Bielderman, et al, 2015;Kadowski, Wister, & Chappell, 2015;Stones, Kozma, McNeil, & Worobetz, 2011;Turan, Yanardag, & Aras, 2012).…”

No Place Like Home: A Systematic Review of Home Care for Older Adults in Canada

“…A national study reported that approximately 40 per cent of home care recipients had unmet needs related to social interaction, mobility, and physical activity (Turcotte, 2014). Contrary to this study, Kadowaki, Wister, and Chappel (2015) reported that 71.4 per cent of older adults receiving home care had their needs met with higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of loneliness, and perceived life stress, whereas only 28.6 per cent had unmet home care needs. Given this difference between the two studies, more research is required to examine home care satisfaction among older adults.…”

Trends in Quality of Life for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Across Living and Care Arrangements, 2008–2022

“…In contrast, individuals without reported caregiving support showed a decline in the prevalence of high purpose in life over time, along with higher loneliness and lower life satisfaction compared to individuals with caregiving support. These patterns align with previous studies [ 9 , 24 ] and suggest that home care may play a meaningful role in improving QoL by providing emotional support, reducing isolation and the burden of daily activities, and promoting independence [ 9 ]. Conversely, individuals without caregiving support may face multiple stressors, including limited access to care, social isolation, and financial difficulties [ 25 ], which can undermine life satisfaction and a sustained sense of purpose.…”

The Impact of Cohousing on Older Adults’ Quality of Life

“…Residents' socioeconomic status and satisfaction with their QOL in the building concur with findings from Glass's (2016) study. The residents' feeling of belonging in the community resulted in the highest score on the environmental domain on the WHOQOL-BREF survey and concurs with past research that older adults' living environment influences their QOL, with older adults living in the community having more independence and higher quality of life than those in institutions (Bielderman, et al, 2015;Kadowski, Wister, & Chappell, 2015;Stones, Kozma, McNeil, & Worobetz, 2011;Turan, Yanardag, & Aras, 2012).…”