Networks of care in Australian rural ageing populations

Abstract

Supporting older people to live independently is increasingly complex. In rural areas, factors associated with comparatively poor health status and distance from health care services highlight the importance of informal care networks. Drawing on the convoys of social relations model, this study seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of the support networks of rural older people. Cross-sectional data were collected from six Australian rural regions via a telephone survey (n = 265). Participants were asked to name up to 15 people in their network and to identify the types of care and assistance they received from network members. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to determine the age, sex, relationship, and proximity of those named. Family members were reported as the first network member for 73.9% of the sample and were the main source of instrumental support. In multivariable analyses, compared with women, men were significantly less likely to receive emotional, transport, and household support. Older individuals (aged 75 or more) were less likely to receive emotional support compared to younger participants. Moreover, those living alone were significantly less likely to receive emotional or household support. This study addresses the scarcity of literature focused on the networks of rural older people and underscores the importance of networks of support as enablers of ageing in place.