Health care needs of community-dwelling older adults

Objective: To identify, assess, and rank the importance of health care need s of community-dwelling older adults. Method: A structured telephone interview with 107 respondents (physicians, direct service providers and administrators) about the importance of a list of 31 health care needs of older adults Respondents also identified the si ngle most important heatth issue facing local older adults now and in the n ext 5 to 10 years. Results: The five most important health care: needs, in descending order, a re: care-giver support services, community long-term care services, service s for people with demenda/Alzheimer's disease, palliative/end-of-life care, and services for cancer patients and thier families. Community long-term c are services were idendfied as the single most important health issue both now and in the next 5 to 10 years. Conclusion: The study findings should be of value to health and social serv ice researchers, planners, providers and administrators regarding the needs of community-dwelling older adults.