title: Sensory impairment, use of community support services, and quality of life in aged care clients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess influences from visual or hearing impairment on use of community support services and health-related quality of life in aged care clients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors sampled 284 frail elderly individuals presenting for assessment in Sydney, Australia. Moderate to severe visual impairment was defined as visual acuity <20/80 (better eye), and moderate to severe hearing loss as hearing thresholds >40 decibels (better ear). Community support services included home-delivered meals, home help, and community nurse visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age, sex, and two or more comorbid conditions, moderate to severe visual impairment, but not moderate to severe hearing loss, was significantly associated with increased use of community services (adjusted odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.0-7.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate to severe visual impairment was associated with an increased likelihood of community service utilization in this aged care client sample.
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Tien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Jie Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: Ee-Munn
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landau
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kifley
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006311:Hearing Disorders; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012678:Sensation Disorders; D014786:Vision Disorders