[Desire and Reality: Discrepancy Between the Actual Usage and the Need to Use Ambulant Support Services - Cross Sectional Study of Elderly People Living at Home in Chronic Need of Care].

Aim:   In Germany, people in need of care are mainly cared for by their relatives who make use of various outpatient relief and support services. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of actual use as well as the desired use of outpatient relief and support services. Dementia and non-dementia as causes behind need for care are distinguished.

Methods:   A representative sample of informal caregivers of statutorily insured care recipients assessed by the MD Bayern during application for a care level classification (n=958) was analyzed. The use of the following outpatient relief and support services was investigated: outpatient care service; domestic help; day care centre; meals on wheels; driving service; care service; 24-hour care; and care group. Characteristics of the care receiver, the informal caregiver and the care situation were recorded. Difference analyses were carried out using Chi² tests and t-tests.

Results:   The use of outpatient support services was low despite the high care burden on informal caregivers ranging from 1,7% for the care group to 38,4% for the outpatient care service. More than 40% of respondents did not use any of the eight services. However, from this non-user group, 72% had a desire to use at least one of the eight services in the future. Domestic help and outpatient care services were the most frequently requested services by non-users. Actual and desired use was more common for dementia than for other causes of need for care, especially for day care, care group and care service.

Conclusion: The desire for utilization is significantly higher than the reality of utilization. In general, the use of outpatient relief and support services is low. The causes of this discrepancy need to be explored. Therefore, effective strategies need to be developed to advise informal caregivers which ensure suitable respite services will be used to strengthen the home care situation.