title: Social welfare utilization and needs of older adults in Taiwan: survey research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The demand for long-term care for older adults has escalated sharply. A good policy dedicated to the welfare of older adults has improved their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the social welfare utilization and needs of older adults and compare their differences among age groups, genders, and functional dependency levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred eighty-four stratified, random-sampled Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults were recruited for this survey research. Participants rated their utilization of and needs for the 30 social welfare services provided by the government on a Likert-type scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most widely used and needed social welfare services by the older adults were senior monetary stipend and a subsidy for the national health insurance premium. Young-old, male, and functionally independent older adults had more knowledge of the social welfare services than their counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While designing a comprehensive social welfare system, differing needs of different age groups, genders, and functional dependency levels should be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Jianan Mental Hospital, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan; College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: kmc@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kuei-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Taliao District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Taliao District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Gender; Long-term care; Needs assessment; Older people; Social welfare