Health of grey nomads

Health of grey nomads

Aged care Rural health

Health of grey nomads: On the move and under the health sector radar has been published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health recently. The term 'grey nomads' refers to older people travelling long distances around Australia and staying in caravans, tents or motor homes.  Anecdotal evidence suggests they impose a burden on rural and remote health services, but there has been very little research to support this.

Author Melissa Raven surveyed the literature and found that many grey nomads have chronic diseases and some are inadequately prepared for travelling.  She concludes that there is a need for further research to analyse the uptake of health services from this group in order to properly resource health services and optimise their well-being.  

Chronic kidney disease: regional variation in Australia

Chronic kidney disease: regional variation in Australia

Chronic Disease Kidney disease Rural health

This report on chronic kidney disease shows that people from remote and very remote areas were 2.2 times more likely to die from chronic kidney disease than people from major cities. People from very remote areas were at least 4 times more likely to start kidney replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplant) than people from non-remote areas.  

Chronic kidney disease is a common and serious problem in Australia and its management can be resource intensive, particularly for the most severe form of the disease: end-stage kidney disease. 
Download this AIHW report here.

Access all areas: new solutions for GP shortages in rural Australia

Access all areas: new solutions for GP shortages in rural Australia

General Practice Pharmacy Rural health

A new report titled Access all areas: new solutions for GP shortages in rural Australia written by Stephen Duckett and Peter Breadon has just been released by the Grattan Institute. Access All Areas, tells a mixed story about Australians' access to general practitioners (GPs). The report looks at how an investment of around $30 million a year would go a long way to solving Australia's worst shortages. The funds would support a greater role for pharmacists, especially in providing repeat prescriptions and vaccinations, and the introduction of a new health worker, the physician assistant, to expand care in remote areas.

Chronic Pain – a major issue in rural Australia

Chronic Pain – a major issue in rural Australia

Pain Rural health

The National Rural Health Alliance has published a 2 page fact sheet on chronic pain.One in five Australians suffer from chronic pain, and it is the most common reason that people seek medical help. It is also Australia's 3rd most costly health condition and more prevalent in rural areas.
Chronic Pain – a major issue in rural Australia- fact sheet.
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