Relationship between perceived needs and assessed needs for services in community-dwelling older persons

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Community-dwelling seniors represent a growing demographic with diverse needs.
• Accurate assessment of needs is crucial for effective service delivery to older adults.
• Existing service provision may not fully align with the self-reported or objectively measured needs of seniors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between perceived and assessed needs in community-dwelling older adults.
• To identify discrepancies between how seniors perceive their needs and how those needs are objectively assessed.
• To inform the development of more effective needs assessment tools and senior services.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 268 community-dwelling older adults in suburban Maryland.
• Needs were assessed across multiple domains: health, function, mental health, sensory functioning, and health behaviors.
• Trained research assistants collected data using the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Baseline Survey.

Main Results:

• Significant relationships existed between assessed and perceived needs, but with notable discrepancies.
• Seniors needing services for memory, physical health, function, loneliness, and nutrition were more likely to use them if not already receiving services.
• A substantial proportion of participants either requested services they did not appear to need or did not request services they did need, highlighting low service utilization among those with identified needs.

Conclusions:

• Both perceived and assessed needs are vital components of comprehensive senior needs assessments.
• Further research into the reasons for discrepancies between perceived and assessed needs can refine screening methodologies.
• Increased availability and accessibility of targeted services are essential for community-dwelling older adults.