Although significant numbers of social service clients experience mental health problems, virtually no research has examined the responsiveness of social service agencies to mental disorder. This article examines the extent to which client depression is reflected in records of a public social service agency, community long-term care (CLTC).…

The authors examine the effects of service barriers on the health status of older Chinese immigrants in Canada. A survey was completed in seven Canadian cities by a random sample of 2,214 older Chinese immigrants age 55 years or older. Service barriers related to administrative problems, personal attitudes, and circumstantial difficulties were…

Examines whether elderly individuals issuing advance directives for health care were more likely to have their wishes understood by designated surrogates than elderly folks who had not given such a directive. The mere completion of a directive did not guarantee the decision maker's awareness of the older person's wishes. (RJM)

Proposes that social workers have specialized, skilled roles in the home health care system and that future legislative and reimbursement patterns must reflect these skills. Concludes social workers can work autonomously within an interdisciplinary framework, with other members of the home-care team. (RC)

Presents survey data on low-income elderly people. Examined sociocultural and quality-of-life variables as they affected use of health care and transportation services. More than half of respondents did not receive medical care despite reporting multiple symptoms. Most participants relied upon public transportation to obtain health services. (RJM)