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Health and Medical Care for the Elderly and Aged Population: The State of the Evidence †
Author(s) -
Bloom Bernard S.,
Soper Keith A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1980.tb01118.x
Subject(s) - medicine , health care , variety (cybernetics) , medical care , gerontology , population , family medicine , nursing , environmental health , economic growth , artificial intelligence , computer science , economics
Emerging statistics emphasize the special needs of the elderly for health and medical care services. A variety of services are being recommended to meet these needs, but few of them have been subjected to rigorous study for determining efficacy, effectiveness or cost. Examination of about 1,000 studies of health and medical services for the elderly published between 1967 and 1978 revealed only 7 that met predetermined criteria for well‐designed and executed investigations. The varied needs of the elderly are finally being recognized, and undoubtedly pressure will be increased for meeting these needs. In this era of finite monetary resources and budgetary restraints, we need better data upon which to base the selection of medical care services for the aged. Resources needed to provide care of known benefit should not be diverted to provide care of unknown benefit.