National Survey of Hispanic Elderly People, 1988

This survey, conducted as an extension of the NATIONAL SURVEY OF PROBLEMS FACING ELDERLY AMERICANS LIVING ALONE, 1986 (ICPSR 9379) (NSPFEALA), was designed to investigate specific problems of the elderly in order to gain a better understanding of the economic, health, and social status of this group. The survey focused on many of the same issues investigated by the NSPFEALA to allow comparisons between Hispanic elderly and the elderly population as a whole. Respondents were given their choice of English or Spanish as the interview language. Elderly Hispanics were asked if they had serious problems with family relationships, loneliness, anxiety, care of a sick spouse or relative, paying for medical bills, having enough money to live on, or dependence on others. In the same vein, respondents were asked if they had disabilities that affected their daily activities such as bathing, dressing, walking, eating, and shopping, and who, if anyone, helped them to perform these functions. Respondents were also asked if they were generally satisfied with their lives and if they felt excited, restless, proud, pleased, bored, depressed, optimistic, or upset during the few weeks preceding the interview. In addition, the survey inquired about willingness to accept various changes in Social Security benefits and taxation and also queried respondents about their living arrangements (actual and preferred), social networks, general health, doctor visits and hospital stays during the last 12 months, coverage by and utilization of social programs and services, income and sources of income, fluency in English and Spanish, current and past employment, usual means of transportation, home ownership, ancestry, country of birth, year of immigration, religion, education, number of living children, age, sex, and marital status.