Final answer:
Religious observance plays a significant role for many older adults, and demographic factors, such as ethnicity and cultural background, influence involvement and the support obtained from religious institutions. Studies indicate a connection between religious attendance and well-being among older Americans, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer as to the most important sources of support in old age.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research on religious involvement in old age suggests that religious observance and the role of religious institutions can be significant for older adults in the United States. When considering the involvement in religion among older adults, several demographic factors come into play. While religious groups can provide instrumental and emotional support, this is not uniformly true for all individuals or across all demographic groups. For instance, factors such as ethnicity and cultural background affect the likelihood of involvement; for example, African Americans and Latinos might be less likely to seek out-of-home assisted care due to cultural preferences for caregiving.
Studies like the one from Barkan and Greenwood (2003) 'Religious Attendance and Subjective Well-Being among Older Americans' found through the General Social Survey that there is a connection between religious attendance and well-being among older Americans. However, this by no means suggests that religious groups are the most important source of support for every individual in old age, as familial, socioeconomic, and cultural factors also play critical roles.
Regarding the specific options provided in the question, it is difficult to make broad generalizations without more context or specific data. However, the attendance of older adults in religious services is generally high, and cultural practices among different ethnic groups, such as African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans, contribute to variance in religious attendance and how elders are cared for in their later years