Poll: Most U.S. adults favor home care

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Seventy-eight percent of voters favor U.S. candidates who would strengthen Medicare coverage for wheelchairs, oxygen and hospital beds, a poll said.

The national telephone survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, commissioned by the American Association for Homecare, conducted last month found 85 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans support home care-friendly congressional candidates.

Eighty-two percent of the respondents surveyed by Harris Interactive expressed a preference for home care over institutional care, while 9 percent said they wanted to receive medical service in a hospital or nursing home.

Preference for home care is most common among Americans aged 55 and older -- 91 percent -- but the strong preference for home care is consistent across all age group, gender, and income segments, the survey found.

Eighty-three percent of U.S. residents 55 and older are more likely to favor candidates who support home care, compared to 76 percent in 18-to-54 age group.