A qualitative study was performed to evaluate the experiences and perceptions of Hispanic senior adults with health literacy while accessing the healthcare system. Research has shown that Hispanic Americans experience health inequalities due to low health literacy. Patients with low health literacy have trouble following medical directions and…

Research demonstrates consistent racial/ethnic disparities in access to and use of health care services for a variety of chronic conditions. Yet we know little about whether these disparities exist for use of health care services for diabetes management. Racial/ethnic minorities disproportionately suffer from diabetes, complications from diabetes,…

Purpose: The Medicare Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) survey, a primarily English-language mail survey with English and Spanish telephone follow-up, is the primary means of assessing the health care experiences of American seniors. We examine unit (whole survey) and item nonresponse for this survey to explore…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between functional disability and the use of health care services in a nationally representative sample of older adults by using the Andersen behavioral model of health services utilization. Design and Methods: The study used 12 years of longitudinal…

Medicare, as a publicly funded insurance program, has produced significant improvement in the overall health of America's elderly populations. However, health disparities still persist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White populations in terms of overall access to health services. This study utilized data from the Hispanic Established Population…

This field hearing by the House Select Committee on Aging produced testimony on the mental health problems and service delivery needs of American Indian and Hispanic American elderly. A director of research and two American Indian advocates: (1) pointed out the high rate of depression among Indian elderly due to physical impairments and deprived…

The study investigated the effectiveness of two outreach/education modalities established to increase the utilization of mental health services by Hispanic elders: (1) a service delivery modality, and (2) a mass media modality. (NQ)

In a study of 630 elderly Hispanic women it was found that four cultural factors associated with assimilation were not strong predictors of preventive health behavior. These findings agree with those of other studies. Stronger predictors for Hispanics are sociodemographic factors and access and availability of health services. (VM)

Describes the demographic trends and health risk factors of the growing elderly population, especially poor minorities. Suggests rethinking traditional hospital and nursing home roles in health care delivery to the elderly, expanding research concerns, reworking access to Medicaid, and ensuring health care to minorities. (CJS)

This report presents the findings of a series of meetings convened by the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of first, examining the health needs, priorities, and concerns of minorities; and second, considering related Federal actions. Included is an overview of the meetings' content, as well as individual chapters on the…

This article investigates attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment in a national epidemiological sample. Young adults reported the most negative attitudes, as compared to older adults. Males reported more negative attitudes, as compared to females, a consistent finding in young adults. The gender difference was not consistent in Latinos…

The first national needs assessment of Hispanic elderly represents a response to the research findings which indicate lower participation rates in social programs and more limited access to social services among older Hispanics than among aged Americans in general. This report provides a descriptive analysis of the problems and needs of four main…

This annotated research, bibliographic and resource guide to current literature on the Hispanic elderly is divided into six major sections. The first section contains a bibliography of bibliographies, books and book chapters, conference papers, journal articles, dissertations, theses, and program descriptions. Part two contains a directory of…

Multiple regression and path analyses of 29 demographic, social, and psychological variables were carried out to determine those variables that influenced the use of community-based mental health services by the Hispanic elderly. The variables were classified using the Andersen and Newman framework which conceptualizes the individual's demand for…

As part of a project to understand the socioeconomic and health status of Hispanic elderly, assess their needs, and examine services available to and utilized by this group, 17 agencies in 9 states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Texas) were evaluated through the survey project. Results indicated…