Abstract:

Examines a combination of individual-based factors - eg, physical & mental health, health attitudes & beliefs, sociodemographic characteristics, & life circumstances - as predictors of health care utilization in the very old, drawing on data from the Berlin (Federal Republic of Germany) Aging Study of West Berliners (N = 516, ages 70+). Higher use of medications was most strongly predicted by more medical diagnoses, better cognitive status, & health attitude; physician contact was only weakly predicted by physical health variables, hypochondriasis, & living alone. In contrast, living alone was the greatest predictor of utilization of caregiving services, though having children nearby served as a protective factor against the need for more formal caregiving services. Results show that utilization of health care depends on interactions between physical & mental health, attitudinal, & social factors.