FAMILY NETWORKS - PREDICTORS OF NURSING-HOME ENTRY

Despite the importance of kin in caring for older relatives, few studi es have examined the relationship between the family network and the r isk of nursing home placement. Data from a cohort of noninstitutionali zed elderly persons living in New Haven in 1982 were used to predict n ursing home admission through 1985. Logistic regression analyses show that older persons who have regular contact with kin have a Lower risk of institutionalization. For men, the spouse is most important in red ucing the risk of entry; for women, having regular contact with at lea st one family member-of any relation-reduces the risk of entry.