Long-Term Care status for the Elderly with Different Levels of Physical Ability: a cross-sectional investigation in first-tier cities of China

Abstract Background: Long term care (LTC) services providing support to functional impaired senior citizens are considered a viable solution to the aging society. However, what are the clinical characteristics, who is eligible and what should be covered remains unclear in China. Therefore, we aim to investigate the elderly population who require LTC and explore the LTC status of the elderly. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in two of four first-tier cities in China. Residents aged 65 and over were recruited from a nursing home and primary hospitals. Participants were divided into three groups (bedridden, domestic and community) then six grades (grade one to six) according to Longshi Scale, and their functional ability was assessed using Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Information such as diseases, complications, daily care needs were collected. Nursing staff were invited to indicate patients’ needs for care. Results: Participants in the bedridden group accounted for 69.3% of all participants (1157). The most common diagnosis stroke (71.4%), and complication, pulmonary infection (25.2%), suffered by all participants should be focused in LTC. Participants in Longshi Scale grade one to three had higher demand for assistance in daily activities may be the ones eligible for LTC. In the nursing assessment, basic health care, disease care, mobility care, complication prevention care and psychosocial care were summarized as the five main aspects of LTC for the elderly. Feeding, bathing, drinking, bowel management and bladder management were identified as basic care which fulfills participants’ basic physical needs in each Longshi group. Mouth care, artificial airway management, body reposition which can prevent immobility complications were highly demanded by bedridden elderly. Conclusions: The elderly in grade one to three are the ones in need of LTC most. The content of LTC for elderly should includecare for disease, mobility and psychosocial needs, specially basic care which fulfills their basic physical needs and complicationcare which can prevent immobility complications. Trial registration: The study design was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-2000034067, Registered 22 Jun 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=54770)