Exploring the impact of rurality on ageing and caregiving

Around one third of older Australians are ageing in rural and regional areas. The rural context presents a range of unique considerations that impact the experience of ageing and caregiving. These factors are often overlooked in contemporary health and aged care responses, which tend to be developed within metro-centric frameworks. This presentation will explore the idea of rurality as a determinant of health in later life, by discussing the opportunities and systemic challenges that impact ageing and caregiving in rural and regional Australia.

About the presenter

Dr Belinda Cash

Dr Belinda Cash is a social worker who specialises in mental health and social gerontology. Her research and teaching interests include mental health, ageing, social policy, service provision in rural areas and informal caregiving. Belinda works at Charles Sturt University, where she teaches into the social work and gerontology programs. She leads the Charles Sturt Ageing Well Research Group and is a researcher with the Institute of Land, Water and Society.