Factors Related to the Need for Informal Care Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Chile

PURPOSE: To identify factors contributing to the need for informal care among community -dwelling older adults with functional impairment in Chile. METHOD: A secondary data analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data from 540 Chilean older adults aged >= 60 years (mean age = 72.2 years, SD = 6.22 years). RESULTS: Informal care need was reported by 24.3% (n = 131) of participants. Among the variables that most influenced the need for informal care among older adults were hospitalization in the past 1 year, functionality, comorbidities, and multidimensional frailty (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study identified factors that clinicians and nurses should be aware of when caring for this population to prevent or manage the need for informal care.