[Factors influencing the utilization of social services in old age]

This study investigates factors influencing the utilization of social services in old age. Medical, social and psychological variables are analyzed among a group of 641 community-dwelling elderly people. Furthermore, this article examines whether utilization of social services differs in different socio-economic living conditions. Results show that the use of services is affected by indicators of independence, financial resources and the informal support system. There is only little difference of using social services in different socio-economic living conditions, and this finding is explained by an interaction of medical, social and psychological variables.