The Significance of an Ill Spouse for Assessing Health Differences in an Elderly Population

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Abstract
In a survey of 678 elderly residents of Alameda County, California [USA], it was found that respondents who reported their spouses as being ill in the last 6 mo. were more likely to report their own health as poor than those respondents whose spouses were not previously ill. The spouse''s health was the best predictor of the respondent''s health. Research in this area may lead to a better understanding of the elderly spouse as a source of social support and may provide geriatricians with new insights into the health risks facing the married elderly.