This article focuses on the evaluative criteria of elderly community residents regarding their preferences in cases of long-term care decision-making. An overall picture of the evaluative criteria which the elderly use to evaluate various alternatives for long-term care are assessed. Furthermore, we determined which of these evaluative criteria may be considered as the most important by the elderly. A good relationship with informal carers appears almost pre-conditional to a preference for informal support. The desire not to burden acquaintances, as well as a positive previous experience with this type of care, are the most important reasons stated for choosing formal or private services. Insights into criteria that are used to evaluate different care arrangements clarify and refine our perspective on future developments.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AllenI.HoggD., & PeaceS. (1992). Elderly people; choice, participation and satisfaction.London: Policy Studies Institute.
2.
BarneyJ. L. (1977). The prerogative of choice in long-term care. The Gerontologist, 17, 309–314.
3.
BiedenharnP. J., & Bastlin NormoyleJ. (1991). Elderly community residents' reactions to the nursinghome: An analysis of nursinghome-related beliefs. The Gerontologist, 31, 107–115.
4.
BrennanP. L.MoosR. H., & LemkeS. (1989). Preferences of older adults and experts for policies and services in group living facilities. Psychology and Ageing, 4, 48–56.
5.
BrodyE. M.JohnsenP. T., & FulcomerM. C. (1984). What should adult children do for elderly parents? Opinions and preferences of three generations of women. Journal of Gerontology, 39, 736–746.
6.
BrownC.DaveyJ., & HalladayA. (1986). Elderly consumers and social care policy. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 21, 299–312.
7.
CohenM. A.TellE. J.BattenH. L., & LarsonM. J. (1988). Attitudes toward joining continuing care retirement communities. The Gerontologist, 28, 637–643.
8.
De KlerkM. M. Y.HuijsmanR., & RuttenF. F. H. (1995). New options in long-term care for the elderly: Evaluation results of demonstration projects in the Netherlands. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 15, 19–40.
9.
EustisN. N.KaneR. A., & FisherL. R. (1993). Home care quality and the home care worker: Beyond quality assurance as usual. The Gerontologist, 33, 64–73.
10.
DaatlandS. O. (1990). What are families for? On family solidarity and preferences for help. Ageing and Society, 10, 1–15.
11.
GelwicksL. E., & DwightM. B. (1982). Programming for alternative and future models. In ChellisR. D.SeagleJ. F., & SeagleB. M. (Eds.), Congregate housing for older people; A solution for the 1980's.Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
12.
HuijsmanR. & De KlerkM. M. Y. (1993). The elderly in the Netherlands: A review. In CoolenJ. A. I. (Ed.), Changing care for the elderly in the Netherlands.Assen/Maastricht: Van Gorcum.
13.
JohanssonL., & ThorslundM. (1992). Care needs and sources of support in a nationwide sample of elderly in Sweden. Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie, 25, 57–62.
14.
KaneR. A., & KaneR. L. (1982). Values and long-term care.Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
15.
KrausA. S.SpasoffR. A.BeattieE. J.HoldenD. E. W.LawsonJ. S.RodenburgM., & WoodcockG. M. (1976). Elderly applicants to long-term care institutions: The application process; Placement and care needs. Journal American Geriatrics Society, 24, 165–172.
16.
LoganJ. R., & SpitzeG. (1994). Informal support and the use of formal services by older Americans. Journal of Gerontology, 49, 25–34.
17.
McCulloughL. B.WilsonN. L.TeasdaleT. A.KolpakchiA. L., & SkellyJ. R. (1993). Mapping personal, familial, and professional values in long-term care decisions. The Gerontologist, 3, 324–332.
18.
van VolksgezondheidMinisterieen SportWelzijn (1995). Beleidsbrief persoonsgebonden budgetfinanciering.Rijswijk, unpublished manuscript.
19.
NiesH. L. G. R. (1992). Beleidsonderzoek in de ouderenzorg (thesis). Nijmegen: Bureau Beta.
20.
Stuurgroep Toekomstscenario's Gezondheidszorg (1992). Scenariorapport 1992. Ouderen in het jaar 2005: gezondheid en zorg.Houten/Zaventem: Bohn Stafleu van Loghum.
21.
TimmermansJ. M. (1993). Rapportage ouderen 1993.Rijswijk: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau.
22.
WielinkG.De KlerkM. M. Y.HuijsmanR. (1995). Voorkeuren voor hulpverlening; Resultaten van een onderzoek onder alleenwonende ouderen. Tijdschrift voor Sociale Gezondheidszorg, 73, 167–174.
23.
WielinkG.HuijsmanR., & McDonnellJ. (1997). Preferences for care; A study of the elders living independently in the Netherlands. Research on Aging, 19, 194–218.
