Factors related to the desire to enter a nursing home among elderly Japanese.

A cross-sectional survey on 1462 residents aged 55 years and over was conducted in an urban Japanese community to describe the factors influencing the people's desire to be institutionalized in later life. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the variables associated with the desire for a nursing home placement. Men unsatisfied with their family bonds were more likely to desire placement in a nursing home. Younger women living alone or dissatisfied with their health status demonstrated a greater desire to be institutionalized. Among the elderly aged 70 years old and over, those who were dissatisfied with their family bonds or disabled in going outdoors were more likely to desire to live in a welfare facility. Gender, housing and financial characteristics were not significant factors for the desire to be institutionalized. Numerous factors were similar with actual predictors of nursing home placement; however, the elderly advancing in age were more concerned to remain at home. The present findings suggest that, aside from physical and mental disability, the family-related issue is the most important factor prompting the desire for institutionalization.