Research and the politics of decision making: planning services for elders

Identification of the appropriate measures for determining levels of impairment and disability has emerged as a major challenge for the network on aging. Recommendations from the Pepper Commission as well as recent court decisions will increase pressures on state and area agencies to identify levels of impairment of activities of daily living (ADLs) as a trigger for eligibility for services and as a component of intrastate funding formulas. The use of different descriptors from the Supplement on Aging to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey as a basis for projecting future demand/need for services is discussed. Each scenario presents a different political/decision-making challenge for the network and for individual planners. Planners are encouraged to provide multiple models for decision making to assist the network in making service delivery decisions.