Health Services Use and Need of Older Adults at Tucson House Community

• Main Author: Stahmer, Elizabeth Ellen
• Other Authors: Badger, Terry
• Language: EN
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2006
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/193353

This study was based on a condensed version of the Andersen-Newman social-psychological model of health care utilization, and investigated whether the predisposing factors of advanced age, gender, and education level influenced health services utilization and need for health services by older adults residing at Tucson House. This study also explored whether depression impacted the level of need for health services among older adults. It was hypothesized that advancing age, being female, having increased education, and being depressed predisposed an individual to need and utilize health care and related services to a greater extent. A descriptive design was used in the secondary analysis of participant characteristics obtained from potential users of an academic nursing center. The sample included older adults (N=85), 65 years and older, who participated in the Tucson House Health Needs Assessment Project. Findings from the current study did not support the hypotheses or validate the adapted conceptual framework.