Health care access of poverty-level older adults in subsidized public housing.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health status, access and use of health care and unmet health care needs of poverty-level residents of the Seattle Housing Authority over the age of 62.
METHODS: An in-person interview survey of a quota sample of community residents.
RESULTS: About half of SHA residents reported problems accessing care and sixteen percent reported being denied care. Multivariate analysis showed that encountering barriers of health care use were associated with having insufficient funds for monthly living expenses and lack of transportation. Over 90% of the population knew where to seek health care, so knowledge about sources of care did not appear to be a barrier. SHA residents met or exceeded national goals for completion of six out of nine recommended exams and procedures. SHA residents had unmet needs for services not covered by Medicare or provided by visiting nurse services.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that SHA residents know how to access medical care, and that visiting nurse services may be remarkably effective in meeting some medical care needs of SHA residents. It appears access to care by residents of subsidized housing could be improved by addressing transportation and financial barriers, and by providing more services to residents on site.