Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

This research assesses the existing elderly health care support system of Bangladesh from the perspective of elderly people. The objective is to understand the perceived barriers to receive elderly health care services in the context of Bangladesh. This qualitative research uses in-depth interviews with elderly persons who are from different socio-economic classes. Content analysis was conducted with the qualitative data gathered. Perceptions about different health care related barriers emerged from the responses of elderly respondents, which vary greatly according to their particular context. Along with service and service provider related barriers, personal and psychological barriers were explored through findings of the qualitative research, which, according to the elderly participants, lower their health care seeking practice across various health care services. Findings derived inform strategies for modifying existing health care systems for the elderly in the context of Bangladesh through the identification of multi-level barriers, both at micro- and macro- levels. This necessitates policy-level modifications for elderly health care delivery.