Premium
Social Context and Personal Need: A Study of Polish and Jewish Aged
Author(s) -
Kahana Eva,
Felton Barbara J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1977.tb02522.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , disadvantaged , context (archaeology) , vulnerability (computing) , service (business) , judaism , interpretation (philosophy) , social environment , special needs , psychology , social needs , gerontology , sociology , medicine , political science , business , health care , geography , social science , marketing , psychiatry , computer security , archaeology , anthropology , computer science , law , programming language
The material history of a study of ethnic aged in their neighborhood context is described. As part of a larger study on service needs of older persons in a predominantly Polish and in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, interviews were conducted with 402 older persons. Special problems and pitfalls to be dealt with in studying ethnic aged are discussed in terms of gaining access to respondents, instrumentation, and in terms of interpretation of data. Ethical issues in studying disadvantaged groups without providing services to them were of special concern. Findings indicated major service needs of urban aged in areas of housing, health, and financial needs. Similarities in service needs emerged despite cultural and life style differences in the two communities. Personal correlates of vulnerability among ethnic aged are reported.