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The elderly and the health care system: another perspective
1Harvard University.
The Milbank Quarterly
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Understanding elderly healthcare utilization is complex. This study diagrams the annual movement of 100,000 older adults through the healthcare system to improve service planning.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Information on population health and healthcare system utilization is increasingly diverse.
- Healthcare needs and service patterns for the elderly are complex and often underestimated by standard databases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the intricate pathways of healthcare service utilization among the elderly.
- To demonstrate the interconnectedness of various healthcare system components for older adults.
Main Methods:
- Development of a schematic diagram depicting the annual healthcare journey of a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 elderly individuals.
- Analysis of formal and informal service utilization patterns within the elderly population.
Main Results:
- The study visualizes the complex, multi-faceted movement of elderly individuals through the healthcare system.
- Interdependencies between different healthcare services and components are highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Periodic review of these movement patterns can inform more effective and efficient healthcare service planning for the elderly.
- A systems-level understanding is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery to older populations.