Population aging in Canada is expected to result in a sharp increase in the use of health services by the aged. The purpose of this thesis, is to enhance the knowledge of the utilization of the health system by the elderly. For this, an analysis of the utilization of three health services was pursued, using data from two health surveys, and two general social surveys in a statistical examination; to describe age-use; identify the major determinants of utilization; and to discover the sources of change in use. The results show that the aged were the highest users of health services among all age groups. Use increased for some services, and decreased for others. Changes in how people were managed by the health system, and to a lesser extent a rise in disease prevalence, were the primary sources of variations in utilization. There was no conclusive evidence of the presence of supplier induced demand. Population aging was not a significant determinant of changes in health service use, but rather factors associated with the management of the elderly by the health system; this includes technological changes in medicine, and changes in treatment patterns.

No description available.

This study examines the importance of age, education, and the health system reforms in the mid 1990's on the utilization of five health services: specialists' visits, family doctor visits, non-physician health professional visits, hospital use, and home care services. The analysis focuses on the Canadians 45 and over, and uses data from the National Population Health Survey. / Results. Age per se has only a minor effect on utilization; the relative high utilization rates observed among the aged relate to the use of services by people with chronic conditions, whose prevalence is higher among the aged. Education has little impact on use of services among the aged. The reforms had only significant effect for four services. They increased utilization of non-medical health professional consults, and increased probability of consulting a specialist. They reduced length of stay, and decreased the number of visits made to family doctors.

No description available.