Healthcare Access: The Growing Gap for Rural and Urban Elderly

There’s no doubt that the UK has a significantly growing gap when it comes to healthcare access for elderly people living in rural locations, compared to those in urban areas.

The pressure on the healthcare system is a prominent cause of this gap. Rural Services Network reported that 35% of hospitals in rural UK locations closed in the last 15 years. 10% of residents in these areas (including elderly residents) noted that they had difficulties accessing hospital services because of this, while only 3% of those living in urban areas had the same problem.

In this article, we’re going to be looking more closely at some of the challenges that have exacerbated this issue, as well as some ways for the elderly to get peace of mind, even if they have trouble accessing essential healthcare facilities.

Transportation barriers

Transportation is one of the most common reasons behind the healthcare access gap. Rural Services Network also had key findings in their report relating to this decline in transportation, noting that bus services have never been so low.

In isolated, rural areas, hamlets and dwellings, buses make up around 1% of transportation journeys. This means that elderly residents have to rely on community transport or cars to access healthcare facilities.

This can be particularly difficult for seniors who do not drive, or those who do not have friends or family with car transportation. Community transport is an option, but it is not always reliable, which can be stressful when it comes to attending appointments or procedures with specific times.

Telemedicine adoption among seniors

After the global pandemic in 2020, remote appointments became more common than ever. However, many older people don’t use the internet anywhere near as much as the younger generation. This isn’t always the case, but even for seniors who are tech-savvy, those who live in rural areas may struggle due to connection problems that are more prominent outside urban locations.

RSN stated in their report that while 54% of rural premises tend to have access to gigabit broadband, 22% of areas in isolated dwellings and rural hamlets have connection speeds that are less than 10 Mbps. In comparison, 88% of urban areas can easily access gigabit broadband.

Healthcare deserts and their impact

As mentioned, RSN highlighted the significant loss of hospitals in rural places over the last 15 years in the UK. That’s created a “healthcare desert” and widened the gap between seniors in rural and urban locations. This can lead to a physical and psychological impact on the older generation.

If seniors can’t easily get access to healthcare, what once could have been simple to manage can become life-threatening. Psychological issues could worsen, such as anxiety and depression, due to the lack of healthcare opportunities. Mobile health services and home visits are an effective way to tackle this issue, as are personal alarms to provide peace of mind.

Insurance coverage challenges

Elderly people living in both rural and urban areas have their own sets of challenges when it comes to healthcare. Those living in rural areas have to deal with accessibility problems and loss of infrastructure, while urban city dwellers are up close and personal with the problems caused by pressure on the UK healthcare system.

Insurance coverage is also a stressful subject, no matter where seniors live, as insurance prices tend to spiral with age and certain health issues. This is highlighted by WeCovr in a report about how age and location impact insurance pricing. In general, those aged 70 and over will have to pay anywhere from £350 to over £600 for more complex treatments or for help with ongoing conditions.

Personal alarms for those in rural areas

Seniors living alone in rural areas are definitely at higher risk when it comes to unexpected medical emergencies. This is why it is more important than ever to consider a personal alarm system. These alarms can provide peace of mind for the wearer and for their friends and family, as they offer a range of features that can be invaluable when living alone in a rural place, such as:

• One-touch functionality.

• GPS tracking.

• Fully mobile alarm.

• Automatic fall detection.

• Two-way communication.

• 24/7 monitoring.

As long as you live in an area that has enough coverage to work with mobile networks (as the alarms work via mobile signals) then SureSafe personal alarms are the perfect choice to assuage any worries revolving around medical care and assistance while living in a rural area.

Learn more about SureSafe personal alarms for seniors

SureSafe personal alarms aren’t just for those who live in rural locations. They’re a great safety net for seniors no matter where they live, whether it’s in the middle of a busy city, on the coast or in a well covered rural area.

SureSafe offers alarms that have all of the necessary features, well suited for seniors who live alone, especially those with medical conditions. These alarms include one-touch buttons that can be pressed in the event of an emergency, but also automatic fall detection in case the wearer cannot physically press the button themselves. The 24/7 monitoring feature also ensures that someone will be available via the SureSafe 24/7 Response Centre in the case of medical emergencies.

At SureSafe, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality products and reassurance for seniors and their friends and family. For more information, give us a call on 0808 303 4541, get in touch on our live chat, or request a callback on our online form. Make sure to have a read of our Trustpilot reviews as well to see what our customers have to say about our services and our top tier products.