Factors of caregiver support under integrated care for older adults in rural areas: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Rapid population aging has increased the demand for integrated care for older adults, particularly in rural areas where older adults frequently experience chronic illness, frailty, and limited access to healthcare. Caregivers, both formal and informal, play a central role in supporting the wellbeing of older adults but often face substantial physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Understanding caregiver support is therefore essential to strengthening integrated care for rural older adult populations.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors influencing caregiver support within integrated care for older adults in rural areas and to highlight evidence gaps for future research.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, and Taylor & Francis) were searched for English-language studies published between 2014 and 2024. Of 371 records identified, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed by research type, methodology, caregiver type, and caregiver support factors.

RESULTS

Nineteen caregiver support factors were identified and categorized into five domains: social and community, financial, e-health, policy, and spatial. Key challenges included limited education and training opportunities, financial strain, restricted access to telehealth services, inadequate policy support, and transportation barriers. Informal caregivers, primarily family members, predominated in rural settings and experienced greater caregiving burdens due to limited institutional and service support.

CONCLUSION

Caregiver support is a critical component of effective integrated care for older adults in rural areas. Strengthening social and community networks, financial assistance, e-health infrastructure, and policy frameworks is essential to reducing caregiver burden and improving outcomes for older adults. Future research should prioritize context-specific caregiver support strategies tailored to rural settings.