title: Service utilization by wife caregivers of frail older veterans.
abstract: This study investigated patterns and predictors of service utilization among wife caregivers of frail older veterans. The study focused on the following sets of variables: predisposing, enabling, care-receiver need, and caregiver need. Respondents were 80 wife caregivers of frail older (age 55+) veterans at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in a Midwestern state. Wife caregivers used a mix of VAMC and non-VAMC services. Care-receiver functional status was a significant predictor of both frequency of service use and number of services ever used. Caregivers' perception of service availability and attitude toward service use were the strongest predictors of number of services ever used.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Berlin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006304:Health Status; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018454:Spouses; D014728:Veterans