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Expected Social Support and Recovery of Functional Status after Heart Surgery

Mon, August 13, 2:30 to 4:10pm, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Floor: Level 100, 113A

Abstract

Objectives. Social support is key to overall health among older adults. How social support matters for long-term functional outcomes after major health shocks remains unclear. We address this research gap by asking if pre-surgery expectations of social support are consistent with received support from family and friends in the post-surgery period, and if expected social support predicts improved recovery after heart surgery.
Methods. The analysis was based on a sample of older adults from the Health and Retirement Survey (waves 1996-2014) (N=702). Receipt of social support was compared to expectations of social support using the Kappa statistic of agreement. Multivariable logistic models were fitted for short- and long-term functional status.
Results. Expectations of social support aligned poorly with actual support received after surgery. The persistence of pre-surgery ADL/IADL limitations explained a bivariate association between expecting future social support and having lower odds of post-surgery functional limitations.
Discussion. The present study contributes to the literature by showing that older adults might overestimate the social support they could receive for their ADL/IADL limitations after heart surgeries, especially 2-4 years later. The findings call for greater medical and political efforts in facilitating long-term care for older adults obtaining post-surgery help for ADLs/IADLs.

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