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Regional responses to the challenge of delivering integrated care to older people with mental health problems in rural Australia

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-01-24, 02:06 authored by J Henderson, S Dawson, J Fuller, D O'Kane, Adam GeraceAdam Gerace, C Oster, EM Cochrane
© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Integrated care has been identified as means of managing the demands on the healthcare budget while improving access to and quality of services. It is particularly pertinent to rural health services, which face limited access to specialist and support services. This paper explores the capacity of three rural communities in South Australia to deliver integrated mental health support for older people. Methods: Thirty-one interviews were conducted with local health and social service providers from mental health, community health, general practice, residential aged care, private practice, NGOs and local government as part of a larger action research project on service integration. Results: Participants highlighted differences in service delivery between the communities related to size of the community and access to services. Three structural barriers to delivery of integrated care were identified. These are as follows: fragmentation of governmental responsibility, the current funding climate, and centralisation and standardisation of service delivery. Conclusion: We conclude that despite a focus upon integrated care in mental health policy, many features of current service delivery undermine the flexibility and informal relationships that typically underpin integration in rural communities. Objective:

Funding

Category 2 - Other Public Sector Grants Category

History

Volume

22

Issue

8

Start Page

1031

End Page

1037

Number of Pages

7

eISSN

1364-6915

ISSN

1360-7863

Publisher

Routledge, UK

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • No

Acceptance Date

2017-04-10

External Author Affiliations

Flinders University

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Journal

Aging and Mental Health

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