| This study reflects the researcher's primary interest in the black aged as a minority population long ignored and long under-served by both privately and publicly administered and funded programs for older Americans.;Although in the past few years the factor of ethnicity in aging has received growing attention, there is still limited information and even less empirical data on the issue. Almost no information is available on ethnic and racial considerations related to their specific needs for service. Evaluation research on programs for the aged fails completely to include the perspective of the black aged or to compare their needs as they perceive them with the kinds of services offered.;Data on the black aged's use of publicly administered and funded programs is also limited. It was estimated by a high public health official in the city in which this study was conducted that less than five percent of the elderly poor population was being served.;Our study population consists of 208 black men and women who were randomly assigned to our control and study groups. This population lives in a high-crime, low-income, predominantly black community of a large northeastern city.;Based upon our premise that the growing awareness of the needs of elderly people have failed to identify the needs of the black elderly, we felt that it would be important to fill in the information gaps about them, their needs, and their responses to social services which are directed toward them. This study aims at that objective.;We see the need to fill in these information gaps in order to help public officials, public administrators, and staffs of publicly-funded social service agencies. We are concentrating our efforts on obtaining: (1) more information about the characteristics of the client population, the black aged, with a differentiation between the black elderly living in urban areas and those who still live in the rural sections of this country; (2) more information about the methods and techniques of service delivery that lead to the most effective utilization of service by the poor, black elderly; (3) more information as to whether social services that are offered and utilized have a positive effect on the social health of the client population; . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of school.) UMI. |
