Spatial equity in the distribution of aged care services

Geographic characteristics and social conditions in rural and remote areas often mean greater difficulty in terms of providing aged care services. This, in turn, inevitably causes concern over spatial eqity in the distribution of aged care services. This paper aims to address the spatial equity issue by analysing aged care services (both residential and community-based aged care services) by four geographic categories: capital cities, other metropolitan areas, rural areas and remote areas. Nursing home patients, multi-purpose services and services approved under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care strategy are included in the analysis in order to get a more complete picture of available resources. Current until 30 June 2001.