Unmet Assistance Need Among Older American Indians: The Native Elder Care Study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and correlates of unmet assistance need with respect to activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) among older American Indians.


METHODS
Data for our analyses were collected in 2006-2008 as part of the Native Elder Care Study, a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling American Indians aged ≥55 years. In-person interviewer-administered surveys were used to collect data on demographic characteristics, physical functioning, mental and physical health, personal assistance needs, and psychosocial resources.


RESULTS
Among those with an assistance need, 47.8% reported an unmet need with one or more ADLs or IADLs. Significant adjusted correlates of unmet assistance need included greater number of ADL and IADL difficulties and lower levels of social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Initiatives and programs aimed at increasing social support and augmenting informal care networks can support efforts to meet American Indian adults' personal assistance needs.
Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington. Mark.Schure@va.gov.
Marc B
MB
Schure
School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis.
Kathleen P
KP
Conte
Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina.
R Turner
RT
Goins
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006704:Homemaker Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
American Indians; Functional disability; Social support; Unmet assistance need