Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Supporting older people to live independently is increasingly complex with demographic shifts predicted to impact on the availability of formal and informal care. 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 convoy of care model, this study develops a comprehensive understanding of how older adults mobilize the support they need. Cross-sectional data were collected from six Australian rural regions via a telephone survey (n=266). This was followed by qualitative, semi-structured interviews (n=60). Participants were asked to name up to fifteen people in their network and to identify the types of care and assistance they received from each member. A comprehensive network analysis was conducted to determine the age, gender, relationship, and proximity of those named. All participants were able to name at least one person in their care network; however, there was variance in the number and in the mix of kin and non-kin relationships, with proximity and the kin relationship being central to the type of support provided. This study underscores the importance of convoys of care as enablers of rural older people ageing in place.