Postponement of health care by unmarried older women

This longitudinal research examined postponement of needed health care by unmarried older women. This research is timely since the unmarried are projected to be an increasing proportion of the aged population. Relationships between being unmarried (widowed, separated/divorced, never married) and postponement of treatment, reasons for postponement of care, and changes in health care behavior were examined. Data were analyzed from 1,159 widowed, 264 never married, and 251 separated/divorced women age 58 to 63 years at the time of the initial interview. Marital status was associated with postponing care and reasons for delaying care. The proportion of women who failed to obtain care and their reasons for doing so were fairly stable over a decade. Distress over finances tended to be more salient in determining postponement of care than health status. Formerly married and never-married women had somewhat different reasons for delaying care suggesting the need for targeted interventions by professionals.