Reevaluating the Place of Evaluation in Planning for Alternatives to Institutional Care for the Elderly

Abstract
This paper reviews an array of studies evaluating alternative settings and programs for long term care of the elderly. Some major methodological weaknesses of those evaluation studies are reviewed. Substantial ambiguities in the results of those studies are also examined. For both of these reasons, and others, research results have had little impact on policy for long term care of the elderly. The paper argues for an emphasis, in the future, on research that will help provide better information to clients, families, and service providers, rather than on studies aimed at finding which site or model is best for long term care.