Differences in the Perceived Need for Assistive Services by Culturally Diverse Caregivers of-Persons With Dementia

Abstract

Various explanations have been advanced to explain why older members of ethnic minority groups in the United States tend to use proportionally fewer assistive social and medical services than nonminorities. One possibility is that culturally based differences in attitudes toward need for particular services affect the likelihood of use. Data were analyzed from 2,947 Black, His panic, and White caregiving dyads participating in the Demonstration Grants to States program. Hierarchical logistic regression models were estimated separately for three discretionary ser vices (adult day care, in-home respite, and meal services) and one nondiscretionary service (home health care). Hypothesized outcomes were observed in all of the service models tested