Health and functional status and utilization of health care services among holocaust survivors and their counterparts in Israel

Esther Iecovich, Sara Carmel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To examine differences in health and functional status and in utilization of health services between holocaust survivors and their counterparts; and (b) to investigate if holocaust survivor status is a significant predictor of health status, functional status, and utilization of health services. The study included 1255 respondents of whom 272 were holocaust survivors. Interviews were conducted face-to-face at the respondents' homes. Participants were asked about their health (self-rated health and comorbidity) and functional (ADL and IADL) status, utilization of inpatient and outpatient health care services, age, gender, education, marital status, length of residence in Israel, and if they were holocaust survivors. Holocaust survivors, who were frailer and more chronically ill compared to their counterparts, visited their family physician and the nurse at the health care clinic more often than their counterparts did, and received more homecare services. Yet, there were no differences between them in the utilization of other health care services such as visits to specialists, emergency department, and hospitalizations. Holocaust survivors are more homebound due to more morbidity and functional limitations and therefore receive more health home care services that offset the utilization of other health services.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)304-308
Number of pages5
JournalArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2010

Keywords

  • Health services
  • Health status
  • Holocaust survivors
  • Utilization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Aging
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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