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. 2022 Sep;41(9):2105-2112.
doi: 10.1177/07334648221098994. Epub 2022 May 10.

Competing Risk Analysis of Time to Communal Residence for Elder Orphans

Regina Roofeh  1   2 , Sean A P Clouston  3 , Dylan M Smith  3
Affiliations

Competing Risk Analysis of Time to Communal Residence for Elder Orphans

Regina Roofeh et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Elder Orphans, socially/physically isolated older adults without caregiving support, are of interest in an aging population. Lack of caregivers for Elder Orphans may influence relocation to residential care facilities, including skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, compared to aging in place. Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), Competing Risk Survival Analyses were performed to determine if Elder Orphans or those At Risk for becoming elder orphans had increased risk for residential care relocation over nine NHATS waves (2011-2019). Elder Orphans had significantly higher risk for moving to residential care facilities in unadjusted (SHR = 1.780; p = 0.001) and adjusted (SHR = 1.571; p = 0.043) models. Those At Risk for becoming an elder orphan had significantly decreased risk for residential care residence in unadjusted (SHR = 0.517; p < 0.001) and adjusted (SHR = 0.726; p = 0.037) models. As aging in place becomes prioritized in the US healthcare system, understanding caregiving needs of older adults is vital to their health outcomes.

Keywords: National Health and Aging Trends Study; assisted living; elder orphans; longitudinal methods; mortality; nursing homes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Cumulative incidence of time to residential care facility residence for Elder Orphans and those At Risk for becoming elder orphans, as compared to those who are not elder orphans. Participant mortality prior to residential care facility residence is the competing risk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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