Examined health service utilization by 4,800 Canadian elderly. Findings suggested that most elderly are healthy and are infrequent users of services. Identifies a minority of very high users of health care and discusses the potential influence of physicians on health care use by the elderly. (JAC)

Projects utilization history of a synthetic cohort of nursing home admissions in 1976 by normalizing length of stay (LOS) specific discharge rates derived from life tables to an estimated 1.1 million persons. Results focus on the LOS distribution, discharge status, and total days of nursing home care used. (Author/JAC)

Defines institutional care and estimates institutional care by the elderly. Reviewed are prospective and cross-sectional studies in which utilization was estimated, along with studies in which factors are identified that influence long-term care utilization such as age, sex, availability of caregivers, and functional status. (Author/ABB)

Examined predictors of service usage in a study of 5,700 nonmetropolitan elderly. Results revealed only slightly higher service utilization for urban versus rural residents. Marital status, income, and age were related to service use for both groups. Among the rural aged, lack of transportation was related to service usage. (Author/JAC)