Satisfaction with Life of Older Men and Women in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and its Association with Formal and Informal Home Care

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Home care aims to reduce harmful effects of poor health and increase well-being.OBJECTIVE: We studied whether receiving formal or informal home care was associated with changes in satisfaction with life (SwL).METHODS: The study includes people aged 70+ who participated in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) at baseline and three-year follow-up. Linear regression models adjusted for individual factors were used to examine the relationship between home care and changes in SwL at two time points.RESULTS: Receiving home care was associated with declining SwL. The association was different for formal and informal care, and to some extent, for men and women. Changes in health mainly explained the association of SwL with formal but not informal care.DISCUSSION: The connection between home care and declining SwL suggests that some people's needs are not met, especially by informal care, which negatively affects life satisfaction. This finding deserves more attention when planning home-based care.