Barriers and Challenges of Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Participation in Iranian Integrated Geriatric Care Program: A Qualitative Study

Background: A large portion of older adults continue to face unmet needs in healthcare and social services. With effective planning and policymaking, this challenge presents a valuable opportunity for policymakers and health administrators. This study seeks to identify the obstacles to participation in Iran's "Integrated Geriatric Care Program (IGCP)."Methods: A qualitative study using a conventional content analysis approach was conducted in Yazd City, Iran, from January to March 2023. A purposive sampling method with maximum variation was applied, involving nineteen participants, including healthcare providers and community-dwelling older adults. Data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews until data saturation was achieved and were analyzed concurrently.Results: The study included nine older adults (3 women and 6 men) with an average age of 71.33 years (SD = 5.75) and ten healthcare professionals (6 women and 4 men) with an average age of 38.2 years (SD = 9.16). Analysis of the data revealed two primary categories, each containing a total of ten sub-categories. The main categories identified were “personal challenges faced by older adults” and “structural issues in the Integrated Geriatric Care Program.”Conclusion: The involvement of community-dwelling older adults in the Iranian Integrated Geriatric Care Program is limited by a combination of personal and structural factors. Our results provide valuable insights for healthcare policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve the quality and availability of healthcare services for older adults in developing communities.