Perceived Helpfulness Of Services Utilized By Depressed Elders Following
Hospital Discharge
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Jessica T. Gledhill
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George Warren Brown School of Social Work
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Washington University
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One Brookings Drive
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St. Louis, MO 63130
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(314) 935-9867
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gladj@gwbmail.wustl.edu
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Enola K. Proctor
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George Warren Brown School of Social Work
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Washington University
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One Brookings Drive
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St. Louis, MO 63130
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Nancy Morrow-Howell
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George Warren Brown School of Social Work
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Washington University
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One Brookings Drive
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St. Louis, MO 63130
Purpose: Client perceptions of the helpfulness of services are important
in assessing quality of care. Relatively few studies have investigated
evaluations of helpfulness by the elderly who, in spite of higher needs
for care, tend to under-utilize services. The objectives of this study
were to investigate the perceived helpfulness of services to seriously
depressed elders in three domains: mental health, physical health and aging.
Methods: We recruited 200 older adults diagnosed with depression
who had been hospitalized on a geropsychiatric unit of a teaching hospital
and were to be discharged home. Participants were interviewed at six weeks
and six months post-discharge to determine their perceptions of the helpfulness
of services received during this follow-up period. Research assistants
using standardized instruments conducted the interviews. Measures of perceived
helpfulness were calculated for each service, each service sector, and
each subject across services.
Results: Although study participants generally peceived services
as helpful, variance existed across specific services and across service
sectors. For example, the percentage of subjects who found mental health
services helpful ranged from 76 to 100%. For physical health services the
range was from 57 to 90% and for aging services 71 to 100%. Factors associated
with these findings will be presented.
Implications for practice: Social workers engaged in planning
and providing services need to understand how elderly clients perceive
the helpfulness of those services. This understanding could increase the
likelihood that elders will utilize the services they need.