CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF INFORMAL HELPERS OF FRAIL OLDER PERSONS

Little is known of the extent to which helper networks of frail older persons change over time and what factors are associated with change. Few national estimates of the scope of change exist to aid policy plan ners. This study provides national estimates of changes in the size of the informal helping network of frail elderly by sociodemographic and functional status subgroups of this segment of the population. The da ta are drawn from the 1982-84 National Long Term Care Survey, which in cluded longitudinal followup of 4,530 respondents living in the commun ity at both times. Bivariate patterns of change over 2 years in the nu mber of informal helpers were analyzed. Sociodemographic factors (sex, age group, and race) of the frail elderly may be more important influ ences on change in the number of helpers than functional status expres sed in terms of their limitations in activities of daily living.