Disability Prevention Programs for Older People: Factors Associated with Medical and Nursing Care Costs

This study aimed to clarify factors associated with medical and nursing care costs for older people living in community and to suggest an effective disability prevention programs. Total of participants in this study was 83 individuals (29 men and 54 women; mean age 81.2 ± 6.3 years old) on November 1st – December 28th, 2014. This study compared the average medical and nursing care costs per month with national average for those aged ≥ 65 years old. Logistic regression test was conducted to examine its association with medical and nursing care costs. Those who had outing activities ≥ 3 times a week were approximately three times less likely to reduce medical and nursing care costs than those who had outing activities < 3 times a week despite three controlled covariates (OR = 3.23 and 95% CI = 1.03 – 10.42). Disability prevention programs that improve frequency of outing at least three times in a week may become a valid economic approach to older people who do not live in nursing home