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Service consumption patterns over time among adult day care program participants
1Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College, PA 19010.
Home Health Care Services Quarterly
|December 10, 1990
Summary
Adult day care (ADC) clients often refuse services, with family caregivers providing more extensive support than formal programs. This highlights gaps in formal elder care services.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Work
- Public Health
Background:
- Adult day care (ADC) programs are crucial for elder support.
- Understanding service utilization and caregiver burden is essential for effective elder care planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile services offered by Pennsylvania's ADC programs.
- To examine elder participants' consumption of ADC services.
- To analyze the relationship between formal service use and family caregiver support.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 59 ADC programs funded by area agencies on aging in Pennsylvania.
- Examination of service rejection rates by elder clients.
- Comparison of the range and intensity of support provided by family caregivers versus ADC programs.
Main Results:
- Elder clients rejected one or more offered ADC services 59% of the time.
- Consumption of homemaking, transportation, and counseling services increased over time, but overall formal service use remained minimal.
- Family caregivers provided a significantly greater range and intensity of support functions compared to ADC programs (p < .001).
Conclusions:
- Current ADC service packages may not fully meet the needs of elder participants.
- Family caregivers often assume a substantial role, potentially indicating unmet needs or preferences for informal support.
- Recommendations for program strategies and future research are suggested to improve elder care delivery.