This descriptive study investigates the reliability and validity of the Service Coordinator Satisfaction Measure (SCSM) which was developed to measure client satisfaction with service coordination in a pilot home based long-term care (LTC) program. The SCSM measures the subdimensions of service delivery and service sufficiency, as well as overall satisfaction with service coordination. Reliability testing with a sample of 213 clients indicated that the SCSM had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .86) and validity testing with the SCSM and a criterion measure also yielded significant positive correlations (r = .57, p < .01). Results showed that clients ranged between being unsure and satisfied with their service coordinator. Analysis of the subdimensions in the SCSM indicated clients were more satisfied with service delivery than they were with service sufficiency, suggesting that clients were somewhat ambiguous about assuming a greater role in managing their own home based LTC needs.
This descriptive study investigates the validity and reliability of the home-based respite services tool (HBRST) which was developed to measure client satisfaction with home-based respite care (HBRC) and determine the degree to which caregivers were satisfied with the respite services they received in a newly-developed AmeriCorps home-based respite program. A convenience sample of 77 caregivers completed the HBRST. Reliability testing showed that the HBRST had high internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha = 0.82 and high stability (r = 0.92; p 0.001). Validity testing with a criterion measure also showed a significant positive correlation (r =.40, p < .01). Thus, the HBRST is a methodologically sound instrument that can be used to evaluate caregiver satisfaction with home-based respite services.
The purpose of this research was to measure client satisfaction with community-based services (CBS) in a pilot service coordination-shared cost program. Data were collected with telephone surveys from 307 clients. Instruments with demonstrated reliability and validity were used to measure satisfaction with each of the following CBS: homemaker, home-delivered meals, personal care, transportation, and handyman and/or chore services. Results indicated that on average, clients were satisfied with each of the CBS they received. Gender, income, and level of satisfaction with other CBS were shown to have some influence on satisfaction levels. Community-based services (CBS) are supportive, home-based services that provide functional assistance to frail older persons to enable them to remain safely and comfortably in their homes. CBS for older persons traditionally have been provided by nonprofit agencies in a noncompetitive environment. The Older American's Act provided funding to all persons 60 years and older in need of services regardless of income. Case managers assessed the needs of older persons and matched needs with services on an as-available basis. Older adults had a limited choice of providers, and client satisfaction had a limited influence on service provision. With the aging of the American population, increasing costs of institutionally based care, and the rapidly growing medical home care movement, the supply of and demand for CBS has continued to grow (Florida Demographic Estimating Conference, 1997; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1996). As a result, CBS are beginning to compete for contracts with Medicare, Medicaid financed diversion projects, and health insurance companies (Riley & Mollica, 1996) and consumers are being asked to share the cost of services (Kisor, 1996). As consumers become
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