Care for deficits in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL and unmet care needs among Austrians aged 65 and over

This study investigates sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with receiving informal and professional care, as well as unmet care needs, among adults aged 65+ in Austria, using data from the 2019 Austrian Health Interview Survey (n = 3408). Overall, 22.2% reported difficulties with at least one ADL and 43.8% with at least one IADL. Among those affected, 72.6% (ADL) and 76.2% (IADL) received help. Technical aids were reported by 35.2% with ADL and 10.6% with IADL limitations. Help from family or friends was common (58.6% ADL; 68.5% IADL), while professional support was less frequent (29.3% ADL; 19.2% IADL). Still, 27.0% of those with ADL and 18.7% with IADL deficits reported unmet care needs. Key predictors for unmet needs included older age, living alone, and chronic conditions such as depression, stroke, incontinence, and inflammatory bowel disease. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to improve care access and support for older adults with functional limitations.