Examining the association between perceived neighbourhood safety and health services utilization: A cross-sectional study among older adults in the United States of America.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between perceived neighbourhood safety and health services use among older adults.

METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study was used to assess the association of perceived neighbourhood safety with inpatient hospital utilization, contact with a physician, home health use, and any health services utilization in the United States of America (n = 10,844). Logistic regression models were used, while controlling for a large number of potential confounders.

RESULTS: The odds of any contact with a physician were greater among those who perceived their neighbourhood safety to be excellent (odds ratio (OR): 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20, 2.72) or very good (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.32) compared with those who perceived their neighbourhood safety as fair or poor, controlling for all model covariates. The odds of any health services utilization were greater among those who perceived their neighbourhood safety to be excellent (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.00) or very good (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.50) compared with those who perceived their neighbourhood safety as fair or poor controlling for all other model covariates. The odds of inpatient care were higher among those who perceived their neighbourhood to be excellent compared with those who compared their neighbourhood to be fair/poor (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.48). Results were not statistically significant for home health utilization.

CONCLUSIONS: These analyses show a relationship between perceived neighbourhood safety and contact with a physician and any health services utilization among older adults and a weaker relationship between perceived neighbourhood safety and inpatient services. Future research should continue to examine this relationship between perceived neighbourhood safety and health services utilization among older adults.