Provision of health services for elderly populations in rural and remote areas in Australia: A systematic scoping review

IntroductionAlthough various studies have examined availability, access barriers and patient experiences of rural health services for the ageing population, no synthesis of this literature exists in Australia. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the current literature surrounding rural service provision and to evaluate the barriers to access for older individuals and to recognise gaps in the literature. DesignA systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from three online databases (PUBMED, SCOPUS and Web of Science). FindingsThirty-two papers were included in analysis. The most prominent types of health service discussed were residential aged care (n = 12) and community health care (n = 10). More studies explored the perspectives of health personnel than the service end users. Qualitative synthesis revealed three themes associated with health service and rural ageing: access to services, health workforce experiences and end user experiences. DiscussionAccess to health services for the elderly population is a complex issue. Promoting positive experiences for both health providers and patients is critical to assisting in healthy ageing for people living in rural and remote areas. This requires intervention on a social and institutional level. Key research gaps in the literature include the effectiveness of an integrated approach to institutional interventions, utilisation of preventative measures such as screening programs for cancer and greater identification of the health needs and perceptions among culturally diverse elderly residents. These studies are critical to promote appropriate and patient-centred care for elderly populations in rural and remote areas. ConclusionThe review highlights the need to address availability, retention and service innovations across health services to improve access to care and health outcomes of rural elderly residents.