Housebound elderly people: Definition, prevalence and characteristics

This study examines various physical, psychiatric, social and environmental factors associated with being housebound in an urban elderly community sample. Using a narrow definition of houseboundness, the overall rate in this sample was 3.5%; in respondents aged 85 years and over the rate was 20.0%. In a logistic regression analysis, physical health status, age, access to a car, floor of entry to household and household tenure emerged as significant independent predictors of houseboundness. Psychiatric disorder was not independently associated with houseboundness in this analysis. Housebound respondents reported higher rates of both formal and informal care; in those aged 65–74 years this extra care was provided by domiciliary health and social services, but in those aged 85 years and over only care by home helps and by family and friends was increased.