Changes in home care use by disabled elderly persons: 1982-1994

Objectives. The use of, and changes in the use of, formal (paid) and inform al care by elderly persons who are chronically disabled and living in the c ommunity was studied. Methods. Estimates wt re made of the sources and volume of home care use fo r persons reporting chronic disability in the 1982, 1989, and 1993 National Long Term Care Surveys. Comparisons were made across disability intensity, survey data, and age. Results. The analyses showed changes over time in the sources of home care services. Generally, the combined use of both paid and informal home health care increased, whereas the use of either source of care alone decreased. The amount spent on formal care increased with disability level and age. Discussion. Use of formal sources of care by community disabled elderly res idents increased, likely because of changes in the Medicare home health car e benefits in 1989. Increased use of home health care was associated with t he concurrent use of informal care.