Gender Differences in Use and Availability of Home and Community-Based Services for People with Dementia

Authors

Dorothy A. Forbes, University of Western OntarioFollow
S. Lynn Jansen, University of Western OntarioFollow
Maureen Markle-Reid, McMaster University
Pamela Hawranik, University of Manitoba
Debra Morgan, University of Saskatchewan
Sandra Henderson, McMaster University
Beverly Leipert, University of Western OntarioFollow
Shelley Peacock, University of Alberta
Dawn Kingston, McMaster University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2008

Journal

Canadian Journal of Nursing Research

Volume

40

Issue

1

First Page

38

Last Page

59

Abstract

The purpose was to examine the use and availability of home and community-based services by men and women with dementia using data from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey. Variables of interest were based on the Andersen and Newman model and included predisposing, enabling, need, and use of health service variables, perceived unmet health and home care needs, and availability of home and community-based health services.Women reported better health and received more supportive care yet had more unmet home care needs than men.Thus, the caregivers of men with dementia (often their wives) were particularly vulnerable to negative outcomes, as their care recipients had poorer health yet received fewer services. These gender differences should be considered when policies and programs are developed, the needs of care recipients and caregivers are assessed, and services are provided.