Effect of family functioning on home visiting care needs in community elderlies

ObjectiveTo study family functioning,home visiting care needs and the relationship between them among community elderlies,and to provide basis for health home visiting by community health workers.MethodsTotally 660 families covered by Yongfeng Community Health Service Station of Yinchuan Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were selected with convenience sampling method and investigated with Family Adaptation,Partnership,Growth,Affection,and Resolve(APGAR) Scale and a self-designed community elderly home visiting care needs questionnaire.ResultsThe total score of family functioning was 5.50±2.503 and the ratio of families with good family functioning was 34.8% and that of with defective family functioning was 65.2% for the elderlies.The fmilies with defective family functioning had higher scores than the families with good family functioning in total home visiting care needs(139.76±30.08 vs 133.95±34.451),life care(27.75±6.49 vs 26.38±7.50),health promotion(33.42±5.58 vs 32.43±6.54),and nursing service need(78.59±19.00 vs 75.14±21.35) (P<0.05 for all).The family functioning showed remarkably inverse relation with home visiting care needs in the community elderlies (r=-0.135,P<0.01).The defective family functioning was inversely related to life care,health promotion,and nursing service needs(r=-0.142-0.166,P<0.01 for all).ConclusionThe family functioning among community elderlies needs to be improved.The family functioning is closely associated with home visiting care needs.