Few urban–rural differences in older carers' access to community services

Abstract

To examine perceived adequacy of access to information and services, and perceived quality of health and community services, among older female carers across rural and urban areas primary data were collected as part of the ongoing Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). In all, 306 women in their 70s who had family caregiving roles responded to a nested substudy of the ALSWH. There were few reported differences between urban and rural older carers in their access to health and community services for the people they cared for. In fact, those in rural areas fared slightly better than those in urban areas in awareness of service availability and perceived quality of service. Many older carers in both rural and urban areas do not access health and community services even when appropriate services are available. A better understanding is needed of how support can be delivered to complement older carers' existing arrangements.