Home and community-based services for well educated older caregivers: gender differences in attitudes, barriers, and use.
Using a sample of 169 well educated, relatively affluent older caregivers, we examined gender differences in attitudes about home and community-based services, service use, interest in services, and barriers to service use. We found significant gender differences in two attitudinal dimensions: preference for informal care and acceptance of government services. A higher proportion of men than women would rather use community services than ask family for help. A larger percentage of women than men believed the government should provide more services. Service use was modest. On average, caregivers were about 5 times more likely to express interest in a service than to have used one. Findings suggest that greater outreach by providers may usefully address service barriers.
Laditka
S B
SB
Center for Health and Aging, State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, Utica, NY, USA.
Pappas-Rogich
M
M
Laditka
J N
JN
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D012647:Self-Assessment