title: A GIS Approach to Identifying Socially and Medically Vulnerable Older Adult Populations in South Florida.
abstract: We define, map, and analyze geodemographic patterns of socially and medically vulnerable older adults within the tri-county region of South Florida.
  
  
  
  We apply principal components analysis (PCA) to a set of previously identified indicators of social and medical vulnerability at the census tract level. We create and map age-stratified vulnerability scores using a geographic information system (GIS), and use spatial analysis techniques to identify patterns and interactions between social and medical vulnerability.
  
  
  
  Key factors contributing to social vulnerability in areas with higher numbers of older adults include age, large household size, and Hispanic ethnicity. Medical vulnerability in these same areas is driven by disease burden, access to emergency cardiac services, availability of nursing home and hospice beds, access to home health care, and available mental health services. Age-dependent areas of social vulnerability emerge in Broward County, whereas age-dependent areas of medical vulnerability emerge in Palm Beach County. Older-adult social and medical vulnerability interact differently throughout the study area.
  
  
  
  Spatial analysis of older adult social and medical vulnerability using PCA and GIS can help identify age-dependent pockets of vulnerability that are not easily identifiable in a populationwide analysis; improve our understanding of the dynamic spatial organization of health care, health care needs, access to care, and outcomes; and ultimately serve as a tool for health care planning.
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.|Florida Coastal Geriatric Resources, Education and Training Center (GREAT GEC), Fort Lauderdale.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Hames
authors: Department of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Florida.
authors: Justin
authors: J
authors: Stoler
authors: Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia.|Department of Geography, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors: Christopher T
authors: CT
authors: Emrich
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.|Florida Coastal Geriatric Resources, Education and Training Center (GREAT GEC), Fort Lauderdale.
authors: Sweta
authors: S
authors: Tewary
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.|Florida Coastal Geriatric Resources, Education and Training Center (GREAT GEC), Fort Lauderdale.
authors: Naushira
authors: N
authors: Pandya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D040362:Geographic Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012933:Social Identification; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: GIS; Health care access; Medical vulnerability; Social vulnerability