Out-of-pocket home care expenditures for disabled elderly

Levels and predictors of out-of-pocket home care expenditures for the disabled elderly are examined using a sample of users of home care with out-of-pocket expenditures from the 1984 National Long Term Care Survey (N = 856). Multiple regression results indicate need, specifically functional ability, adds the most explanation to out-of-pocket home care expenditures. Education, marital status, asset availability, prior nursing home use, and population density, while significant, add relatively little explanation to the total variance. Implications for prevention education and long-term care policy are discussed.