Wenming Li, Shangshuai Zhu
This study focuses on the impact of health disparities on elderly care model selection among older adults. By analyzing data from the 2023 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and employing univariate analysis methods, we empirically investigate the care choice behaviors and underlying factors among seniors with varying health statuses.The results demonstrate that health dimensions including self-care ability, mental health, chronic disease burden, and health behaviors significantly influence care model preferences. Specifically, those with limited self-care capacity show greater preference for institutional care, while individuals with positive psychological states tend to choose home-based care. Additionally, demographic factors such as gender, age, and marital status also exert significant effects.These findings provide both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for optimizing elderly care policies and improving service quality. The research contributes to building more human-centered and efficient elderly care systems, ultimately supporting the goal of ensuring happy and fulfilling later lives for aging populations.
Care Model Selection; Health Disparities; Charls Dataset