Help at Home and Perceived Health Status: Gender Differences in a Community-Dwelling Population

Understanding the factors that impact perceived health status of older adults will help to identify the factors associated with aging well and to develop occupational and physical therapy interventions. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between life circumstances related to living with a helper and perceived health status. Methods: Questionnaire responses from a sample (n = 243) of community-dwelling older adults (ages 60–90+) were analyzed for relationships between demographic information, living with a helper, and SF-36 scores. Results: In a sample with high socioeconomic status, there were no differences between men and women in reported health status, but women were significantly less likely to have a helper at home. Ceiling effects were noted in several subscales of the SF-36. Discussion: Consideration must be given to gender differences in help at home during therapy, and when recommending outside services to help with daily living tasks.