Utilization of Local Public Health Services in Łódź by Elderly People

The article contains ananalys is of the Influence of the main demographic factors (sex and age) on the utilization by elderly people in Łódź of services provided by local public health-care units. The analysis was based on empirical data obtained through researches conducted in 1978 with in the framework of the centrally sponsored research project on "Needs of Elderly People in the Sphere of Health Protection". The research findings showed that district general clinics are quite regularly visited by elderly people. On the average, every third person visiting an internist in a district clinic was over 60 years of age with women representing the majority of outpatients. Patients aged from 65 to 69 accounted for the biggest number of medical consultations. On the other hand, elderly people were visiting outpatients’ clinics about six times a year. As compared with the above figures the average number of home calls did not exceed, with doctors visiting double the number of women than men at their homes. In the sample of persons of sixty and more years of age home calls represented about 20 p.c. of all medical consultations. Determination of the in fluence exerted by factors shaping the fulfilled demand will constitute a basis in forecasting the future trends.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę