The healthcare barriers prevent people from getting adequate care. They can be social, cultural or financial and they can impact the health of an individual and a population. We will examine three healthcare barriers for older people and show how two national funding programs addressed them.
Obstacle 1: Inability to access healthcare services
It is more common for older adults to be suffering from chronic conditions, and to need access to health care services regularly. Many elderly people may have difficulty accessing health care services because of mobility or transportation issues. Many healthcare providers are not equipped to handle the needs of older patients.
Solution 1: Medicare Advantage Programs
Medicare Advantage Programs are one way to provide healthcare to older people who lack access. The programs offer additional services such as home healthcare, transportation to appointments and telemedicine. This benefit can be especially helpful for older individuals that may find it difficult to travel or who require special care.
National Health Insurance Programs
National health insurance programs, such as Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system, provide universal access to healthcare services. This method ensures that all people, including elderly individuals, have access to essential medical services, regardless of their financial ability. The approach will help to remove the financial barrier and provide care for elderly people.
Barrier 2: Financial Barriers
Costs of healthcare can pose a financial burden to many seniors who are on fixed incomes. Cost can cause people to forgo necessary healthcare.
Medicaid Expansion is Solution No. 1.
Medicaid, a federal healthcare financing program, provides health coverage to people who have limited resources. Medicaid expansion is a way to provide healthcare coverage for elderly low-income individuals that may not otherwise qualify for Medicare. This can be a great way to remove barriers for the elderly in terms of financial support and make sure they get medical attention.
National Health Insurance Programs
The elderly can benefit from national health insurance programs that help to reduce financial barriers. These programs cover all healthcare services and can reduce medical costs for older individuals on fixed incomes.
Lack of Health Literacy
Some elderly people may not have the necessary health literacy to fully understand their conditions and treatments. The elderly may have a limited understanding of their medical conditions or treatments, and this can be detrimental to their health.
Health Literacy Programs
These programs provide educational materials and assistance to the elderly. These programs will help to improve the health literacy of elderly people and make them better equipped for understanding their medical conditions, and treatments that they need.
Solution 2: Patient Navigation Programs
The Patient Navigation Programs help elderly people navigate the health care system. These programs help elderly people understand their medical condition and get the appropriate care. The patient navigation program can provide emotional support to older individuals with chronic illnesses or health problems.
As a conclusion, there are many obstacles to accessing health care for the elderly, including financial limitations, insufficient knowledge of their healthcare options, and a lack of accessibility to services. The national healthcare funding programs could play a vital role in eliminating these barriers. They can do this by providing universal healthcare access, expanding Medicaid, providing health literacy and patient navigation programs. We can help elderly people live healthy, fulfilling lives by addressing the barriers.