Abstract

Background: With the increase in the aging population, improving community care services to solve the care problems of China's older adult population has become an urgent task. This study explored the community care needs of older people and how these needs are influenced by personal characteristics and level of dysfunction.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 400 older adults in 10 communities in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, between May and October 2023. The participants completed a demographics questionnaire, a measure assessing performance in activities of daily living, and a measure of community care needs.

Results: The mean for the level of overall community care needs was 44.87 ± 2.56, indicating low demand. The order of community care needs from high to low weremedical services (17.02 ± 1.89), spiritual comfort services (13.96 ± 1.56), and life care services (13.89 ± 1.19). Factors influencing participants' community care needs included level of dysfunction, age, monthly income, and living situation (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Community care needs of older adults with different degrees of dysfunction vary and are influenced by several community factors. These findings provide a scientific basis for community-specific aging reform.