Case Management in Rural Australia: Arguments for Improved Practice Understandings

Issues of accessibility to health services by older Australians: a review

“… Western Australia Hospice care ‘The ability to die in the place of choice should be looked at as a possible quality measure in end-of-life care’ Banbury et al (2014) [ 17 ] Systematic literature Rural and remote communities Australia E-health ‘E-health has the potential to increase access to services in rural and remote communities’ Bhar (2016) [ 33 ] Survey Residential aged care staff Australia Psychological services ‘Access to psychologists and psychological services remains poor within Australian residential aged care facilities’ Brand et al (2011) [ 34 ] Review People with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee Australia Health services needed for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. ‘Clinicians have evidence-based recommendations for OA management but are poorly supported by service models to deliver these effectively and efficiently’ Cornell (2016) [ 35 ] Opinion piece Older Australians Australia Housing ‘Seeking to optimise outcomes for older people in the context of choice, independence, housing security, participation in community life and wellbeing and assist them to age in place’ Davis (2016) [ 11 ] Systematic review Older people Australia Aged care ‘There is limited high-quality research investigating the effectiveness of interventions at the health and aged care interface of subacute care’ Dellemain et al (2013) [ 13 ] Opinion piece Rural people Australia Case management ‘There is confusion on the definition of case management, thereby limiting its accessibility to emerging rural services’ Drummond et al (2011) [ 14 ] Survey West African refugee women Perth, Western Australia Health care services ‘Shame or fear of what family and friends might think, fear of being judged by the treatment provider, fear of hospitalization, and logistical difficulties were significant impediments to accessing health care services’ Evans (2013) [ 36 ] Cross-sectional survey design ...…”

“…This review has also identified a number of geographic accessibility issues facing older Australians accessing health services, particularly due to low workforce numbers, a lack of services and poor infrastructure [ 13 ]. Geographic accessibility to health services is a multifaceted issue for older Australians with transport to cover the geographic distance to health services posing multiple barriers for older people [ 14 ].…”

Building Social Inclusion for Rural Older People Using Information and Communication Technologies: Perspectives of Rural Practitioners

“…There were social workers (n 06) in attendance, who represented a wide range of practice including mental health, research, community linkages programs, primary (chronic health) care, Commonwealth Carelink, and policy development. Many other practitioners were case managers in professional practice from a range of backgrounds, representing the reality of rural practice (Dellemain & Warburton, 2013).…”

“…Council on the Ageing, Western Australia, 2011; Ewing & Thomas, 2010). Many of the participants were experienced rural practitioners, used to dealing with the complex and multiple challenges of rural practice (Dellemain & Warburton, 2013). Many were actively involved in program delivery, or had experience of local programs; others had some ideas of how to respond to these challenges.…”

“…By promoting and building rural, older people's capacity to utilise ICTs, practitioners are increasing the ''equalising potential'' offered by ICTs (Pruijt, 2002). Rural disadvantage needs to be addressed, and social work, as a profession, needs to continually raise issues of equity and access, including in rural case management (Alston, 2004;Dellemain & Warburton, 2013). Facilitating and building older people's access to new technologies is one important avenue for this to occur.…”