Assessing access as a first step toward improving the quality of care for very old adults.
Understanding the barriers to obtaining care that the population of people age 80 and older (80+) experiences is one of the first steps toward developing organizational and clinical strategies aimed at improving care. This article reviews the data from the 80+ Project's survey to assess the prevalence of barriers to care and identify the characteristics that place the 80+ population at risk. Barriers to access for older adults occur on many levels. Ultimately, the ability to improve health outcomes through reducing barriers to care is dependent on the effectiveness and quality of care received. By recognizing the barriers to care that limit access, health care professionals can begin to develop strategies to eliminate these barriers and improve the health care of older adult patients.
Bierman
A S
AS
Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD, USA.
Magari
E S
ES
Jette
A M
AM
Splaine
M
M
Wasson
J H
JH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003625:Data Collection; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States