Bridging Gaps: Identifying Factors Influencing the Willingness - behavior Transformation of Older People to Use Community Care Services in Urban China

Liu YangLijian Wang^*

• Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China

Objectives: While the potential benefits of community care services (CCSs) have been highly recognized, the imbalance situation of high demand and poor utilization of these services among older people is still significant in China. Therefore, this study aimed to identify key factors influencing willingness - behavior transformation of older people to use CCSs, thus promoting the actual use behavior and improving their life quality. Methods: Using survey data of 1233 older people from urban areas in four provinces of China, descriptive statistics analysis is used to illustrate the basic characteristics of participants and their willingness and willingness - behavior transformation status of using CCSs. The binary logistics regression models and multinomial logistic regression models were hired to explore factors influencing the willingness and willingness - behavior transformation of older people to use three CCSs categories. Results: The willingness of older people to use CCSs was high, while the willingness - behavior consistency was relatively low, indicating the great gaps between positive willingness and actual behavior. The willingness of older people to use three CCSs categories were significantly and differently influenced by 13 predisposing factors, enabling factors and needs factors. Among them, age, gender, marital status, educational level, traditional old-age care belief, neighbor's attitude, policy advocacy, service affordability, province, health status and empty nest were identified as the key factors to convert the willingness into behavior. Conclusions: This study highlights key factors to willingness and willingness - behavior transformation for older adults to use CCSs in urban China, and further provides policy implications for government measures to incentive older people's positive willingness to use CCSs and bridge the gaps between the willingness and the actual behavior.