Title

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

Authors

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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