John A. Krout

Knowledge and Use of Services by the Elderly: A Critical Review of the Literature

This article critically reviews the existing literature on the perceptions, knowledge, and use of services by the elderly. Definitive statements concerning these topics are difficult to make because of the contradictory research findings and inadequacies of existing studies. However, the following observations are supported by this review: many elderly do not hold positive attitudes towards services, a bare majority appear aware of services, utilization rates are extremely low, and the correlates of service use are not well understood. In addition, this article identifies a number of weaknesses with the existing research and discusses the following specific recommendations for improvement: conceptualization and operationalization of knowledge and use as continuums, not as discrete phenomena, examination of the processes by which individuals come to know of and use services, and consideration of the roles played by informal networks as facilitators or deterrents to knowledge and use of services.

Reasons for relocation to a continuing care retirement community

This study examines the reasons given for relocation to an upstate New York continuing care retirement community (CCRC) for 91 affluent adults ages 65 to 95 who subsequently moved to this CCRC. Reasons most frequently given for moving involved the anticipation of future needs, such as a desire for continued care, freedom from upkeep and maintenance of current residence, and the desire not to be dependent on or a burden to anyone. Reasons for relocating to this particular CCRC, include continued care, facilitys reputation and management style, and its location near family and friends. Logistic regressions reveal that demographic variables predicted the reasons for selecting this particular CCRC, namely, marital status and/or gender, education, income, and perceived health. The authors conclude that the movers to this CCRC sought to avoid potential problems of “aging in place,” and were also attracted by the nature and location of the particular CCRC they had selected.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Moving Plans of Older Adults

Abstract Data from a longitudinal study of older adults in an upstate New York county (N = 333) show that poor housing “fit” increases the likelihood that older adults are currently considering a move, as does lower residential satisfaction. Those adults who said only that they “might consider moving” focused on health transitions that might signal a need for a new housing situation. Residential satisfaction predicts actual moves even when controlling for moving plans. Older adults may be “pushed” to make a move by a crisis, but those older adults planning moves tend to be “pulled” into housing arrangements with desirable features.

Utilization of Services by the Elderly

This article examines levels of service awareness and use, correlates of use, and reasons for nonuse for a sample of 250 residents aged sixty and over of a small city. A regression analysis reveals that service use is greater for those elderly who are aware of more services, are not married, have less education, use their cars less, report a greater number of sick days, and have less contact with their children. Lack of need is identified as the major reason for nonuse.

Senior Centers in America.

Preface Introduction Growth and Development: A Historical Overview Organizational Characteristics Programming Awareness, Attitudes, and Utilization Participants and Participation Linkages and the Community Services Network Programming and Policy Issues Summary and Conclusions Bibliography Index

Intergenerational Service Learning With Elders: Multidisciplinary Activities and Outcomes

This article provides an overview of the activities included in a 3-year, multidisciplinary, intergenerational service-learning project conducted as part of a Foundation for Long-Term Care Service Learning: Linking Three Generations grant. Courses from four departments (gerontology, psychology, occupational therapy, and health promotion and physical education) and one interdisciplinary clinical intervention for stroke patients (speech pathology, occupational therapy, and therapeutic recreation) were involved. Service-learning activities were embedded in course curriculums and varied from semester-long activities in group settings to activities involving one-on-one contact for several hours. In total, eight faculty and 225 students worked with 148 elders and 12 different community organizations to plan and implement activities for 357 older adults. Students and elders reported a high degree of satisfaction with the intergenerational activities and indicated that they learned from them and found them of value personally.

Correlates of Senior Center Utilization.

This article identifies the correlates of senior center participation through a comparison of a sample of center users and nonusers on a number of predisposing, enabling, need, and informal network interaction variables. Center users report lower levels of income and education, see their friends more often, and desire more contact with their children. Having something to do and seeing or making friends are most often cited by users as reasons for participation. Nonusers, on the other hand, attribute their lack of attendance mainly to being too busy or having no interest.

The elderly in rural environments

Abstract This paper provides a critical examination of the research available on the rural elderly in America. A detailed review of the many studies and topical areas investigated by rural gerontologists is not attempted. Rather, several ‘salient aspects’ of rurality (occupational, ecological and sociocultural) are identified as a basis for describing and explaining the status and experiences of older people in rural areas. The meaning of these dimensions as they relate to rural environments and the elderly is explored through both a general discussion and an application to two substantive issues — health status and life satisfaction. This examination illustrates the sizeable gaps that exist in what we currently know about the rural elderly and the problems/drawbacks of approaches traditionally used to study this topic. The paper concludes with a call for a more unified and conceptually based approach to future rural elderly research, that focuses on how and why the ‘salient aspects’ of rurality produce different circumstances and experiences for the elderly, and that emphasizes rural variation, not just ‘rural vs urban’ comparisons.

Rural versus urban differences in health dependence among the elderly population.

This article examines data on rural versus urban differences in health dependency for a random sample of 600 western New York elderly people residing in a range of community settings from farm areas to a metropolitan central city. Data were collected via personal interviews, and health dependency was operationalized as an index composed of nine criterion measures. The nonmetropolitan elderly population is found to be less health dependent as are elderly persons who are younger, white, married, and have higher incomes. However, the rural/urban variable is not a significant predictor of health dependency when included in a multiple-regression analysis. These findings do not support the rural elderly health disadvantage argument and serve to illustrate some of the shortcomings of existing research on this topic.

Senior Center Activities and Services Findings from a National Study

This article presents data on the number, nature, and availability of activities and services offered by a 31-state sample of 755 senior centers. Centers provide a mean 11.1 activities and 17.6 services-considerably more in number and variety than they made available a decade ago. Health, recreation, nutrition, access to center, and information/assistance are most likely and special/personal counseling, income supplement, and in-home are least likely to be offered.