The self-perceived personal maintenance needs of a sample of aged noninstitutionalized women compared with their needs as perceived by the family caregiver

This study compared the need for personal maintenance services as perceived by a non-random sample of 40 aged women with their personal maintenance requirements as perceived by their 40 family caregivers. The categories of personal maintenance services were (a) business or administrative services, (b) home maintenance services, (c) meal preparation services, (d) monitoring services, (e) personal care services and (f) transportation/escort services. Data were collected over a one year period using structured interview guides designed by the investigator. The Aged Woman's Personal Characteristics Interview Format (AWPC) and The Family Caregiver's Personal Characteristics Interview Format (FPCF) constructed by the author were used to gather information about the personal characteristics of the study subjects. The Personal Maintenance Needs Inventory (PMNI) was used to gather data to test the six study hypotheses. It was hypothesized that there would be differences in the extent of help needed in five out of six service areas and that there would be no difference in the sixth (transportation/escort). The t test statistic was used in hypothesis testing with the criterion for significance set at p $\leq$.05. No significant difference was found between the perceptions of the aged women and of the family caregivers regarding the need for the aggregate of services in the six personal maintenance areas. This finding leads the writer to conclude that the aged women and the family caregivers in this study were in general agreement with regard to the women's need for help with personal maintenance services.