Barriers to health, social and long-term care access among older adults: a systematic review of reviews.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the different barriers to accessing healthcare, social services and long-term care among older adults.

Methods: A systematic review and narrative synthesis were conducted to analyse barriers to accessing healthcare, social care and long-term care services among older adults. We followed the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.

Results: Seventenn studies were included in the systematic review. Seven articles were systematic reviews, six were scoping reviews, two were literature reviews, one was a rapid review and the last one was an integrative review. The results show that the different types of barriers that hinder access to services for older adults are, on the demand side, socioeconomic factors; and on the supply side, geographical factors. Community factors and the digital divide are on both the supply and demand side. Interaction between barriers should be considered.

Conclusions: Adequate access to social and health services is crucial for the health and well-being of older adults and to guarantee equity in health. In summary, access to health services for older adults is determined by a heterogeneous interaction of these factors, on both the demand and supply side. Overcoming these barriers requires a comprehensive approach involving the collaboration of governments, healthcare providers, communities and older adults themselves.