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Slicing the health service cake: The Islington Study

Nelson, Tanya, Livingston, Gill, Knapp, Martin R J., Manela, Monica, Kitchen, Ginnette, Katona, Cornelius (2002) Slicing the health service cake: The Islington Study. Age and Ageing, 31 (6). pp. 445-450. ISSN 0002-0729. (doi:10.1093/ageing/31.6.445) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:12226)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/31.6.445

Abstract

Background: little is known about the factors that are associated with receipt of care in older people. This study aims to describe the pattern and predictors of service usage, by a representative sample of people aged 65 and over.

Method: we assessed psychiatric and physical morbidity, formal and informal care and prescribed medication by standardized questionnaires.

Results: 1085 people were interviewed at home. Having dementia was a negative predictor of GP and hospital consultation (both P<0.001). Depressed participants were most likely to consult with GPs (P<0.05); 13.1% were on antidepressants. People with dementia use health services less than their counterparts. The presence of co‐resident informal caregivers predicts less use of social services but no increase in health consultations.

Conclusions: carers give compensatory care rather than act as bridges to link people with dementia with the health care system. People with dementia need advocates. Older people with depression are high users of all services. They remain under‐treated pharmacologically.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/ageing/31.6.445
Uncontrolled keywords: dementia, depression, formal and informal care, service usage
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: M.P. Stone
Date Deposited: 21 Oct 2008 16:22 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/12226 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Katona, Cornelius.

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