The Impact of Home- and Community-Based Services on the Health of Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The impact of Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) on the health of older adults has been a topic of concern for geriatric health and policy development. However, the existing studies have yielded inconsistent empirical findings. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of HCBS on the physical and mental health of older adults. We conducted a meta-analytic examination of 26 correlations in 11 separate studies, using random-effects meta-analysis to pool the data. The findings support a positive relationship between HCBS and the health of older adults, with a highly significant positive correlation with mental health ( r = .532, 95% CI: [0.201, 0.864]) and a weak positive correlation with physical health ( r = .076, 95% CI: [−0.171, 0.324]) in older adults. The study found high correlations between HCBS and well-being and depression relief, while the correlations between HCBS and self-rated health (SRH) and physical function were moderate and weak, respectively. Furthermore, the effects did not differ across different measurements of HCBS, duration of service, or country of investigation. These findings suggest that practitioners should develop precise integration of community care services with healthcare services, providing a full spectrum of services throughout the lifecycle to enhance the health and well-being of older adults.