Involvement of informal and formal service providers: meeting the home care needs of older adults with severe functional impairments.

This study examines informal and formal service providers' involvement in each activity of daily living (ADL) of older adults with severe functional impairments and the older adults' unmet needs for ADL assistance. In addition, this study examines the relationship between the involvement of informal and formal service providers and unmet needs for ADL assistance. Using the data from the 1999 National Long- Term Care Survey, the study included 275 older adults, who experienced ADL impairments and received assistance. This study found that nearly a quarter of the older adults reported unmet needs for ADL assistance. This study also found that the involvement of informal and formal service providers was not significantly related to unmet needs. However, the factors, including the older adult's functional status, levels of assistance received, and Medicaid enrollment, were significantly related to unmet needs included. Practice implications from these study findings for home care service providers are discussed.