title: Organizational characteristics, client characteristics, and the delivery of home care services.
abstract: This research examines the extent to which organizational professional orientation, client perceived needs, and client characteristics jointly determine long-term care service delivery to a frail elderly population. The study uses primary data collected from 16 community networks that were part of a national demonstration of the Living at Home Program, conducted from 1986 to 1989. Data include baseline assessments of individuals enrolled at each site, subsequent utilization data, and data on community network characteristics. Site professional orientation has a significant role in determining services provided to clients, with social service agencies more likely to provide nonmedical services and less likely to provide skilled-care services. Despite systematic site variation in the services provided to individuals, sites appear to reasonably allocate resources among individuals with differing levels of functional disability.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Manheim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guihan
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000451:nursing; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States