Older adults as a community resource: results from the National Survey of Self-Care and Aging.

Using data collected from the first wave of a longitudinal data set collected in the late fall and winter of 1990-1991, the National Survey of Self-Care and Aging (NSSCA), we examined the extent and type of assistance older people provided to others. Age, gender, and perceived health status were the most consistent predictors of the four types of assistance: personal care, child care, volunteer work, and listening/offering advice and support. Help with instrumental activities of daily living either alone or in combination with other activities of daily living was the most common type of personal care provided.