Challenges being faced by the elderly people in accessing health services in Beni-Suef University Hospital

Abstract EN

Background: aging is a gradual physiological degradation that causes organ system function to deteriorate and physiological reserves to dwindle, causing challenges to elderly people functional activity, this study outlines the challenges that the elderly experience while seeking health-care services at Beni-Suef University Hospital.

Aim of Study: the aim of this study was to assess the challenges being faced by elderly people in accessing health services at Beni-Suef University Hospital.

Setting: the research was carried out in the outpatient’s clinic at Beni-Suef university hospital.

Sample: a convenience sampling that consisted of elderly patients aged 65 and above from both sexes who attended the outpatient clinic at Beni-Suef university hospital.

Tools: tools were used an interview a questionnaire that include five parts, Sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, availability, and accessibility of health care services, barriers and challenges that the elderly face in accessing health care services, the elderly's satisfaction about health care services, and suggestion.

Results: outpatient clinics were favored by 48% of participants,48% who were seen for medical examinations and investigations,94% had transportation difficulties, 73% of participants were waiting for a long time to be diagnose, 66% had not have health insurance coverage.

Conclusion: there was a statistically highly significant difference between elderly people residency and the types of health care challenges which faced, there was statistically highly significant difference between the level of satisfaction among elderly people and the types of health care challenges they faced.

Recommendation: encouraging the government to develop new policies to provide free health insurance to all elderly people; as well as raise awareness about the difficulties that the elderly face in accessing health care services at Beni-Suef University Hospital.