Factors Associated with Service Utilization Among the Elderly

摘要

To study the reasons for utilization of social services by the elderly, data were gathered from a random sample of 400 persons ages sixty and over in a heterogeneous, Midwestern, metropolitan community of 80,000. Respondents were asked whether they had used each of thirteen services and, additionally, were asked to respond to questions in three general areas: demographic characteristics, functional capacity (status of the individual and of the social support system), and orientation to service (knowledge of and self-perceived need for services). A classificatory schema for services was developed to allow for meaningful comparison of use of different types of services. To define service utilization more clearly, data were also gathered on the services which actually existed in the study community.