Physical Barriers Encountered by the Elderly in Accessing Healthcare: A Study Conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: Accessibility of services by the elderly is an important issue in countries with rapidly aging populations such as Sri Lanka. Objective: To determine perceptions of an elderly population on physical barriers encountered in accessing healthcare at a tertiary care hospital, Sri Lanka. Method: Information was accessed from persons above 65 years visiting a tertiary care hospital, Sri Lanka by an interviewer administered questionnaire. Results: Three hundred and forty-one persons (56% males; mean age 67y) were interviewed. Eighty six percent had visited the hospital before with over 50% being accompanied. Fifty seven percent self-reported age-related physical disability with a majority (51%) having mobility impairment. Only 28% with disability had an assistive device while 41% relied solely on help of another for the hospital visit. Even though only 19% of patients said they could not reach their destination without help 41% said they could not reach upper floors without assistance while more than half said they would have preferred a wheel chair. A majority said wheel chair assistance was not available and that maneuverability of devices was inadequate. Considering directions, 33% had not noticed the information desk, 26% said it was not manned when they needed directions and 25% thought signage was poor with 18% saying that the appropriate rooms were poorly identifiable. Fifty percent said seating was inadequate while 24% thought access to wash rooms inadequate and not disable friendly (45%). Conclusions: In conclusion obtaining guidance within the hospital was difficult due to poorly noticeable, inadequately manned information desk. The poor signage visibility and legibility further complicated the movements of these patients. The waiting areas had inadequate seating facilities with no designated disable friendly areas. Hospital infrastructure was not disable friendly with difficulties in reaching upper floors unaided and inability to maneuver assistive devices. The access to washrooms was perceived as inadequate.

Keywords

• elderly
• disability
• accessibility
• physical barriers