Palliative Care for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: Access Barries and Policy Implications from Stakeholders' Perspectives

Abstract

Abtract: This study aims to examine the palliative care needs and barriers to accessing services among disadvantaged older adults with chronic illnesses and to propose relevant policy implications. The study combines document analysis and qualitative methods, with data collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that this population has comprehensive palliative care needs, with symptom management and pain relief being the highest priorities. Four major groups of barriers were identified: awareness, financial constraints, service delivery systems, and policy. The study recommends strengthening palliative care policies, developing community-based palliative care, enhancing workforce training and collaboration between health and social work services, and expanding financial support and social resource mobilization to improve access to palliative care services.

Keywords: Palliative care; older adults; socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults; chronic diseases; policy implications.