https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2019.7826
Assisted living in rural areas: aging in blurred landscapes
Submitted: 13 September 2018
Accepted: 2 April 2019
Published: 26 August 2019
Accepted: 2 April 2019
Abstract Views: 2117
PDF: 667
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Here, we explore the experiences and practices of care in the context of assisted living facilities (ALFs) in rural areas from the perspectives of family members, health care professionals, and senior citizen interest group representatives. Specifically, we focus on the potential for ALFs to safeguard and unify the health care policy ambitions of equity, quality, and aging in place. Focus group interviews with health care professionals and interest group representatives and individual interviews with family members were conducted in largely rural Norwegian municipalities. Providing high-quality health care services in people’s homes remains challenging, particularly in rural areas. ALFs have been introduced as a compromise, a home away from home. In rural areas, ALFs are typically localized in community centers. ALFs are neither homes nor nursing homes, and residents possess varying and changing care needs. Several parties experience challenges with respect to safety, evolving care needs, and responsibilities. Moreover, the service allocation and user payment systems may undermine equity. This study indicates that health care authorities should evaluate whether prioritizing assisted living is still suitable for the aging population in rural areas and beyond.
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Supporting Agencies
The Research Council of NorwayHow to Cite
Blix, Bodil H., and Torunn Hamran. 2019. “Assisted Living in Rural Areas: Aging in Blurred Landscapes”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 3 (2). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2019.7826.
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