Networks of care in Australian rural ageing populations

Supporting older people to live independently is increasingly complex. In rural areas, factors associated with comparatively poor health status and distance from health care services highlight the importance of informal care networks. Drawing on the convoys of social relations model, this study seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of the support networks of rural older people. Cross-sectional data were collected from six Australian rural regions via a telephone survey (n = 265). Participants were asked to name up to 15 people in their network and to identify the types of care and assistance they received from network members. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to determine the age, sex, relationship, and proximity of those named. Family members were reported as the first network member for 73.9% of the sample and were the main source of instrumental support. In multivariable analyses, compared with women, men were significantly less likely to receive emotional, transport, and household support. Older individuals (aged 75 or more) were less likely to receive emotional support compared to younger participants. Moreover, those living alone were significantly less likely to receive emotional or household support. This study addresses the scarcity of literature focused on the networks of rural older people and underscores the importance of networks of support as enablers of ageing in place. •This study provides a unique examination of support networks for older people in six diverse rural case sites in Australia.•Increased life expectancy of older people with complex care needs will require social forms of care and support.•Aligning with hierarchies of care theory, the the majority of support was provided a family member and the first person named in the network.•In rural communities, proximity to a network member (within 30 minutes) was also crucial in accessing support.•Those who live alone, who are older and are male were significantly less likely to receive a range of care support.