The Influence of Communication Abilities on the Family Disease Burden of Chronic Older Adults in China: An Examination of a Moderated Mediation Model

More than half of China's elderly with chronic illnesses burden their families. Family functions mediate between communication abilities and disease burden, with SES moderating this. A "government-community-family" support system is needed. Government should enhance social security, for example, through long-term care insurance and tiered reimbursement, to ease economic burdens and improve communication. Communities should use health records to identify elderly with communication barriers and provide training. Families should adopt communication techniques; interventions for dysfunctional families, like empathy building and behavior control, can improve functions and relieve burdens.