Abstract:

Investigates how population aging has affected health care for older Americans, & whether the manner in which demographic transition has occurred influences the provision of services. Data from the 1980 U.S. Census & subsequent, Current Population Reports & a 20% national random sample of Medicare patients (N = 1.9 million) indicate that distribution of acute services differs according to definitions of population aging & the way that aging has occurred. Regardless of definitions, however, states with high-aging population use much more posthospital home health care than do states with low aging. All states seem to use very old age (85+) to determine distribution of resources, with low-aging states also affected by structural constraints at the hospital & market levels.