ABSTRACT
Increased life expectancy coupled with decreased birth rates has led to a notable aging of the population. In the social care sector, resources for the older persons should be allocated by means of objective instruments that ensure an appropriate fit between older people's needs and the characteristics of the services. This paper analyzes the appropriacy of actual assignments of resources in a sample of 632 older users of social services, evaluating the degree of fit between these assignments and those made by a Decision Making Model (DMM) which is strictly based on an objective assessment of user's needs and characteristics. The results indicate that biopsychosocial variables included as predictors in the DMM are appropriate for ensuring that the needs of the older persons are met and resources are optimized. However, the current assignments of users to services cannot be explained by relying solely on these variables, suggesting that the allocation of users to services may be conditioned by factors that are different from those covered by the DMM.
Subject(s)
Geriatrics/standards , Health Services Needs and Demand/trends , Life Expectancy/trends , Social Support , Social Work/trends , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , HumansABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Information and knowledge among the elderly on social services can contribute both to their access to these services, as well as to the elimination of myths and negative stereotypes pertaining to these services and their users. The aim of this study was to analyze knowledge of the social services available to the elderly among older adults in the Autonomous Region of Galicia, as well as to identify their expectations of future use and the characteristics that they consider suitable to improve their quality of life and obtain the most appropriate care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The items in the Social Services section of the "Needs and Requests of Users and Non-Users of Social Services for the Elderly Questionnaire" were analyzed and applied to a sample of 1,101 participants aged 60 years and older in the Autonomous Region of Galicia. RESULTS: Knowledge of the available social services was generally limited among elderly individuals in Galicia. The best-known services were traditional services, such as nursing homes, and the main sources from which the elderly received information were family, friends and the media. Knowledge was mainly influenced by specific variables such as age, educational level, and habitat. CONCLUSIONS: Information on social services to the elderly should be disseminated, especially among older adults with lower levels of education and those living in rural areas.
Subject(s)
Social Work/standards , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Spain , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objetivo: la información y el conocimiento que poseen las personas mayores acerca de los servicios sociales pueden contribuir tanto al acceso a éstos como a la eliminación de mitos y estereotipos negativos vinculados a su finalidad y a sus usuarios. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar el conocimiento que tienen las personas mayores de la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia sobre los servicios sociales dirigidos a este colectivo, así como identificar sus expectativas de uso futuro y las características que considerarían idóneas para lograr una mejor calidad y atención en los mismos. Material y métodos: se analizan los ítems correspondientes al apartado de servicios sociales del «Cuestionario de necesidades y demandas de usuarios y no usuarios de servicios sociales para personas mayores», que fue aplicado a una muestra de 1.101 personas de 60 y más años de la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia. Resultados: el conocimiento que poseen los mayores gallegos es, en general, escaso. Los servicios más conocidos son los más tradicionales, como las residencias, y la principal fuente de la que obtienen la información son los familiares y amigos, y los medios de comunicación. El conocimiento se ve influido fundamentalmente por determinadas variables, como la edad, el nivel de estudios y el hábitat. Conclusiones: es necesario llevar a cabo una mayor difusión de los servicios sociales entre las personas mayores y especialmente entre las personas de mayor edad, con menores niveles educativos y del ámbito rural
Introduction: information and knowledge among the elderly on social services can contribute both to their access to these services, as well as to the elimination of myths and negative stereotypes pertaining to these services and their users. The aim of this study was to analyze knowledge of the social services availableto the elderly among older adults in the Autonomous Region of Galicia, as well as to identify their expectations of future use and the characteristics that they consider suitable to improve theirquality of life and obtain the most appropriate care.Material and methods: the items in the Social Services section of the «Needs and Requests of Users and Non-Users of Social Services for the Elderly Questionnaire» were analyzed and applied to a sample of 1,101 participants aged 60 years and older inthe Autonomous Region of Galicia.Results: knowledge of the available social services was generally limited among elderly individuals in Galicia. The best-known services were traditional services, such as nursing homes, and the main sources from which the elderly received information were family, friends and the media. Knowledge was mainly influencedby specific variables such as age, educational level, and habitat. Conclusions: information on social services to the elderly should be disseminated, especially among older adults with lower levels of education and those living in rural areas (AU)
