Exploring intra-ethnic diversity among four groups of Hispanic elderly: Patterns and levels of service utilization

    Authors

    T. L. Dietz; R. John;L. C. Roy

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Aging Human Dev.

    Keywords

    CARE; Gerontology; Psychology, Developmental

    Abstract

    This study investigates service use by a sample of 2,135 Hispanic elderly in order to address the issue of the homogeneity or heterogeneity within the older Hispanic population as revealed by the use of formal services. Factor analysis revealed a high degree of homogeneity in the patterns of formal service use among the four Hispanic groups in this study that follows three latent, but distinct, patterns of behavior: the use of federal entitlement programs, in-home services, and senior center services. Although the patterns of service use reflect substantial homogeneity among the Hispanics in this sample, there is a high degree of heterogeneity in the level of service use. Overall, service use was systematically lower among "Other" Hispanic elders and systematically higher among Puerto Rican elders, with somewhat more erratic use among Cuban American and Mexican American elders. Controlling for between-group differences in socio-demographic characteristics did little to reduce relatively systematic between-group differences in levels of service use.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Aging & Human Development

    Volume

    46

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-1998

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    247

    Last Page

    266

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000073843500004

    ISSN

    0091-4150

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