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Giving While in Need: Support Provided by Disabled Older Adults

Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute, Lighthouse International, New York, New York.

Address correspondence to Kathrin Boerner, Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022. E-mail: kboerner{at}lighthouse.org

Objectives.This paper focuses on predictors and patterns of support provision over time among disabled older adults. The ability to provide support to others may become an especially critical issue for persons who are dealing with a progressive, chronic impairment that typically results in increased functional disability and thus places them in greater need for support.

Methods.This multilevel analysis examined change in support provision over time, as well as the degree to which sociodemographics, health, functional disability, use of rehabilitation services, and the receipt of support predicted support provision. Participants, 449 older adults with a progressive, chronic visual impairment, were interviewed three times over an 18-month period.

Results.Affective and instrumental support provided to family and friends each showed a decrease over time. Age, gender, and education emerged as predictors of support provided at baseline. Receipt of support was positively related to support provision at all three time points, both within and across support types.

Discussion.Findings indicated that there may be feasible ways of providing support, even by older adults who are in need of support themselves.