Dependency Among Older People in the Dominican Republic
Author Information
Author(s): Acosta Daisy, Rottbeck Ruth, Rodríguez Guillermina, Ferri Cleusa P, Prince Martin J
Primary Institution: Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña (UNPHU)
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of dependency among older people in urban areas of the Dominican Republic?
Conclusion
Dependency among older people is nearly as prevalent in the Dominican Republic as in developed western settings, with non-communicable diseases, particularly dementia, being the main contributing factors.
Supporting Evidence
- 7.1% of participants required much care and 4.7% required at least some care.
- The prevalence of dependency increased sharply with age.
- Dependent older people were less likely to have a pension and paid work.
- Dementia was the strongest independent contributor to needing much care.
- Caregivers of those with dementia experienced more strain than others.
Takeaway
Many older people in the Dominican Republic need help with daily activities, especially those with dementia, which makes it hard for them to live independently.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey of health conditions, dependency, care arrangements, and caregiver strain among older adults in Santo Domingo.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of physical health outcomes due to reliance on self-report.
Limitations
Dependency was assessed using a semi-structured interview, which may introduce subjectivity.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 74 years, with 65.8% female and 70.3% not completing primary education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3.64–7.47 for dementia prevalence ratio
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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