Home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults have been promoted worldwide to address the growing problems of aging. This systematic review included 59 studies published from 2013 to 2023 to explore factors influencing the utilization of HCBS among older adults. The review identified 15 common factors grouped into four levels of influence: individual, inter-relationship, community, and social contextual levels. The findings suggest that HCBS utilization is a dynamic process influenced by multiple factors at different levels. Gerontological social work should incorporate ecological thinking to improve practice and strengthen caregiver-recipient relationships.

Guided by Andersen’s behavioral model, the objectives of this study were to (1) examine the associations between individual factors and the intended utilization of home-based long-term care (LTC) services among older adults in China and (2) explore the influence of community support, if any, on these associations. Using a multi-stage random sampling approach, we recruited 1,064 older adults in Chengdu, China. Hierarchical regression was employed to investigate the direct effects of individual predictors and community support on the intended use of home-based LTC services. The moderating effect of community support was examined using the Hayes Process. Two predisposing (i.e., being old and unmarried), four enabling (i.e., living alone, having fewer children, and receiving less family and peer support), and six need factors (i.e., having more chronic illnesses; decreased performance in instrumental activities of daily living; higher levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness; and a lower self-image of aging), and low community support were significantly associated with increased intended utilization of home-based LTC. In addition, community support moderated the effects of family support (B = −.20, p < .001), peer support (B = −.20, p < .001), self-image of aging (B = −.39, p < .001), depression (B = −.34, p < .001), and loneliness (B = −.48, p < .001) on the intended utilization of home-based LTC services. Policymakers and practitioners should consider delivering tailored services for older adults and involve the community in the context of enhancing home-based LTC services.

In light of the increased demand for long-term care services in China, there is an ongoing discussion on what factors contribute to older adults’ intended use of long-term care services. This study empirically recruited 239 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years in China and explored factors influencing their intended use of four types of long-term care (basic life care, basic medical care, rehabilitation care, and psychological care) based on the Andersen behavioral model (i.e., predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and need factors). The results showed that older adults were most likely to use psychological care. Age (as the predisposing characteristic) was the significant predictor of the intended use of four types of care. Regarding the intended use of basic life care, the enabling resources of marital status, household composition, income, as well as need factors of preference for the care setting, were influential. Moreover, income and need factors of self-rated physical health status were only two variables associated with the intended use of basic medical care. Concerning the intended use of rehabilitation care, household composition, income, self-rated physical health status, and preference for the care setting were significant predictors. The intended use of psychological care was influenced by enabling resources of marital status, household composition, and need factors of self-rated physical health status, preference for the care setting, and preference for the caregiver. These results can promote the sensitivity of policymakers and caregivers to the community-dwelling older adults’ intended use of long-term care and contribute to the delivery of appropriate care services by public policy.

Objective: Frailty is one of the most problematic expressions of aging and causes older adults to require more assistance in daily life. Care robots have been proposed as a potential solution to bridge the widening gap between the demand and supply of healthcare services. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of care robots in supporting older adults living with frailty. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, including peer-reviewed articles published in English from January 2000 to April 2025. A quality assessment was performed on the included studies, and the results were summarized narratively. Results: Of the nine studies reviewed, five examined the impact of care robots on physical frailty. Three of these studies reported positive outcomes, while two found no significant effects on physical frailty. The impact of care robots on psychological frailty was assessed in four studies, but no significant effects were found. Regarding usability, the perceived usability of care robots among frail older adults was generally low, primarily due to technical limitations. Usability also varied depending on the specific contexts in which the robots were deployed. Conclusions: Care robots have the potential to improve physical frailty in older adults, although their impact on psychological and social frailty remains limited. Usability challenges persist, underscoring the need for further refinement in robot design, user experience, and contextual factors to enhance their effectiveness and usability for this population.

Objectives: Research on grief among family caregivers of individuals with dementia has seen a notable increase. Our objective was to synthesize the relationship between coping factors and pre-death grief (PDG). Design: (Prospero protocol: CRD42024560208) We conducted a systematic review of literature from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Medline up to July 2024. Included studies encompassed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. During the study selection process, we excluded data on intervention effectiveness and studies not published in English. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence was summarized narratively. Participants: Participants in this study are family caregivers who take care of dementia patients. Methods: We included data from 12 studies in our analysis. The majority of these investigations were carried out in Western countries. The research primarily involved spousal or adult child caregivers and centered on PDG. We included validated measures of PDG in each study. Significance of results: Among the reviewed studies, five reported on coping strategies, while seven addressed coping resources. Overall, the findings indicated that the application of coping strategies, specifically positive coping strategies, is effective in alleviating PDG and mitigating the effects of caregiving burden on PDG. Coping resources – including self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and support from friends and family – appear to have a beneficial impact in reducing PDG. Additionally, the quality of relationships with friends and family members was found to be a significant factor. Moreover, spiritual and religious beliefs, along with community faith, have been identified as crucial elements in alleviating grief experienced by caregivers. Conclusion: Knowing what coping strategies and resources are beneficial to decrease PDG experiences among dementia caregivers.