HEALTH AND SOCIAL-SERVICE UTILIZATION PATTERNS OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS

This qualitative study examined the service utilization patterns of a group of Mexican American older adults and barriers they may encounter when they attempt to access formal services. A purposeful sample was drawn from the clients of a social service program which provided assi stance to older adults, Interviews with 46 respondents revealed that ( 1) deteriorating health exacerbated the need for services (2) deficien cies in the ability to have health, social, and transportation needs m et as a result of economic and time constraints of adult children (3) difficulty accessing needed services on their own behalf and (4) failu re to receive assistance in accessing services and prolongation of unm et needs adversely affected the quality of their lives. The findings o f this study provide insight into the issues faced by Mexican American older adults and are valuable in understanding why there is an increa sing need for formal social services among older Mexican American adul ts as has been documented by previous research.