Service provision for people with dementia in rural Scotland: difficulties and innovations

Citation

Innes A, Cox S, Smith A & Mason A (2006) Service provision for people with dementia in rural Scotland: difficulties and innovations. Dementia, 5 (2), pp. 249-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301206062253

Abstract
The provision of health and social care services to people with dementia and their carers living in remote and rural areas has been neglected globally. Meeting the needs of people with dementia poses many challenges for service providers. Such challenges may be compounded by the difficulties of providing and accessing services in rural areas. This article explores the views of Scottish service providers drawn from the voluntary, statutory and private sectors. Our findings highlight the difficulties relating to dementia and rurality faced by service providers in Scotland. We also consider innovative measures reported by service providers. Such measures indicate that not only can the distinct challenges of dementia service provision be overcome, but also challenges posed by providing services to people with dementia and their carers in rural and remote areas. These findings extend the literature on rural dementia service provision. The article concludes with a consideration of the practice and policy implications of providing dementia services in remote and rural Scotland.

Keywords
dementia services; rurality; scotland; service providers; Dementia Research; Dementia Patients Care; Dementia Scotland

Journal
Dementia: Volume 5, Issue 2

People

Dr Annetta Smith

Senior Lecturer, Health Sciences (Highland & W.Isles)