[The resources of the social network of single person households during acute illness. Basic data for home care planning in an influenza epidemic].
230 single persons living in the city of Zurich, 60% aged 18-45, 10% 45-65 and 22% older than 64 years; 70% males were subject to an enquiry. The questioned persons mostly live in two-room-apartments, on average for 11 years, they are single for 8.5 years on average. Solely 5.4% have no living relatives but 32% see them only irregularly (same for all age groups) and 4% are not persistently in touch with friends or acquaintances. 36% were needing help in the past because of sickness or accident. They got it from neighbours (38%), friends, acquaintances (36%), family members (17%) and from home care organisations (9%). In case of a heavy wave of influenza only 14% would not help their neighbours, they would help an average of four neighbours but also they would surely not help four neighbours. The answering persons know 23 singles (= 10%) who presumably would not get any help and 20 (= 9%) who would decline help. 90% of the questioned persons believe, that they would get help by family members or friends, even if those live far away, but still 29% expect help from home care organisations, of the questioned over 64 years old even 52%.


CONCLUSIONS
10-30% of city singles need help in form of home care in case of an acute illness like heavy influenza.
Wettstein
A
A
Stadtärztlicher Dienst, Zürich.
Peters
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013557:Switzerland
Die Tragfähigkeit der sozialen Netze von Einpersonenhaushalten bei akuter Krankheit. Basisdaten zur Spitexplanung bei Grippepandemie.