Previous work has considered Hispanic elders' need for services, actual receipt of services, and consequences of service receipt, but has not considered issues of unmet need. Among three groups of Hispanic elders (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans), we focused on unmet need for a variety of services. Data were drawn from the National Survey of Hispanic Elderly Persons. Weighted results for the total survey sample (n=1855) showed that between 15% (visiting nurse) and 25% (senior transportation) reported service needs but no service utilization. In the case of every type of service, Mexican Americans were more likely to report unmet need than were Cubans. For most services except homemaker, senior centers, and transportation for seniors, Puerto Ricans were more likely to have reported unmet need than were Cubans. Controlling for functional dependence and socio-demographic factors, differences by ethnicity no longer persisted for need for senior transportation. Differences between Cubans and Mexican Americans persisted for all other service types. Functional dependence explained unmet need across all three ethnic groups, but other socio-demographic factors explained need for service differently by ethnic group. Thus, reported unmet need for services differed widely across ethnic groups, was related to the specific type of service, but was also explained differently by socio-demographic variables, when ethnic sub-group was controlled. Findings suggested that unmet needs of Hispanic elders differ greatly according to their sub-group membership.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants should be able to: 1. Recognize variations among Hispanic groups in unmet need for services. 2. Appreciate differences in explanatory factors across Hispanic elders of different ethnic backgrounds. 3. Consider implications for access and utilization of needed services.
Keywords: Hispanic, Service
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.