Access to Health Care for Older Persons in the United States: Personal, Structural, and Neighborhood Characteristics

Objective:To determine the contributions of personal, structural, and neighborhood characteristics to differential access to health care for older persons in the United States. Methods:This study used the 1994 National Health InterviewSurvey, ages 65 and older (n= 12,341), 1990 census block group da...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aging and health 2001-08, Vol.13 (3), p.329-354
Main Authors: Auchincloss, Amy H., van Nostrand, Joan F., Ronsaville, Donna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Aged
Client Characteristics
Correlation analysis
Economic Problems
Elderly
Ethnic Groups
Health care access
Health Care Services
Health Insurance
Health Services Accessibility
Health technology assessment
Humans
Income
Medically Uninsured
Models, Theoretical
Neighborhoods
Older people
Poverty
Residence Characteristics
Rural Population
Social Support
Socioeconomic Factors
United States
United States of America
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Summary:Objective:To determine the contributions of personal, structural, and neighborhood characteristics to differential access to health care for older persons in the United States. Methods:This study used the 1994 National Health InterviewSurvey, ages 65 and older (n= 12,341), 1990 census block group data, and data on health professional shortage areas. Logistic regression was used to model the probability of problems accessing care. Results:The likelihood of access problems increased sharply with decreasing gradients of family income and for those lacking private health care insurance. Rural areas and poor areas were at a disadvantage in accessing care, whereas residents of neighborhoods that were homogeneous in ancestral heritage appeared better able to access care. Discussion:Considering the high association between neighborhood and personal characteristics, it is notable that any neighborhood effects remained after combining them with personal effects.
ISSN:0898-2643
1552-6887
DOI:10.1177/089826430101300302