Factors influencing service utilization by older individuals. Perceptions of communication disorders professionals...

This project investigated the extent to which communication disorders professionals feel their services are being utilized by older persons and possible factors they believe may influence inadequate service utilization. Older respondents were also queried with respect to the same service utilization concerns as they pertained to health services in general. Survey data are reported for the two groups in terms of both perceived levels of and factors restricting service utilization. In addition, subgroup response patterns within both professional and older sampling groups are identified, and the lack of congruence between perceptions of professional and older respondents is discussed.