Mid Sweden University

Title: Longitudinal Health Trends Among Users of Swedish Home Care Services (2013-2022) Background: Although the population is aging, more people are staying at home rather than living in residential care, necessitating increased support from home care services. Due to limited societal resources, the criteria and demographics for receiving home care may have changed over the past decade. Aim: To investigate the changes in the group receiving home healthcare, focusing on frailty, and associated sociodemographic factors. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study on prevalent and newly granted home care services users between 2013-2022, based on Swedish health care registers, was analyzed with linear regression concerning home care services utilization, and frequences regarding number of monthly hours, cohabitation, disposable income, and frailty (a state of accelerated biological aging where the body successively loses its ability to adapt to physical, psychological, and social stresses). Results: Frailty has increased among prevalent users but remained consistent among newly granted users. The population receiving home care has become younger, while the proportion of the total population receiving home care has decreased. More women than men received home care, but the differences decreased over time. Women were more likely to live alone and have lower income than men. The hours of home care received remained constant. Conclusion: The population receiving home care has been relatively stable concerning health and there exist sex differences in home care usage and sociodemographic factors. The decreased proportion of the population receiving home care services could indicate that public health is improving and the need for home care is decreasing.