Comparative utilization of community based long term care services by Hispanic and Anglo elderly in a case management system.

Utilization of formal and informal supports by Hispanic and Anglo (white, non-Hispanic) elderly enrollees in a comprehensive case management system was compared. It was found that Hispanic elderly, on the average, used significantly fewer agency services than did Anglo elderly, despite a tendency to exhibit higher levels of impairment. Hispanic elderly utilized significantly higher levels of informal support, however, and this may be a mediating factor in their lower use of agency services. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.