Older adults in Cyprus trying to access healthcare are confronted daily with barriers – big or small ones, Philenews reported on Monday.
Specifically, there is lack of specialized structures and shortcomings still exist within the island’s General Health Scheme (Gesy) when it comes to rehabilitation, palliative care and community nursing services.
Moreover, gaps are still there when it comes to supporting chronic or terminally ill patients. And, in some cases, in the provision of benefits and other assistance to patients whose families are forced to incur high costs in order to meet their specialised needs.
The big or small barriers are all reported in the Patients’ Observatory of the Federation of the European Union.
In several cases, older adults turn to the Observatory for assistance since they have difficulty in getting to hospitals and other health centres from which they receive services.
In a more difficult situation, elderly people who live alone are not even aware of the support services available and as a result do not turn to the relevant government departments or agencies.
In general, both in Cyprus and worldwide, accessibility and acceptability are the two factors most often identified as enablers or barriers to older adults from accessing healthcare.
Other often mentioned factors were finances, transportation and social/family support.
