Long-Term Care in Remote Settings

A Qualitative Case Study on Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i

Bibliographic Data

ID22416940
AuthorsPriyam Das (0000-0003-0706-8721, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-23
Publication date2026-02-10
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Aging & Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0895-9420 • E-ISSN: 1545-0821
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08959420.2026.2618143
PMID41664617
OpenAlexW7128545762
LanguageEN
References cited33

As the global population ages, age-friendly communities are becoming a priority. However, most initiatives have an urban bias, overlooking the unique challenges in rural and remote areas. These regions, experiencing high rates of population aging due to youth out-migration, older adults aging in place, and retiree in-migration, often lack the resources and infrastructure to support aging in place, with gaps in long-term care exacerbated by geographic isolation. This study focuses on Lāna'i, Hawai'i to explore the challenges in providing long-term care to older adults in remote areas. By engaging older adults, caregivers, and service providers, it examines the factors essential for their wellbeing, and how remote communities can support aging in place. The study highlights the importance of community assets like social connectedness, leadership, and advocacy in overcoming resource constraints. At the same time, it reveals gaps in long-term care, especially during extreme events like the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasizes the need for context-specific, community-driven solutions for better healthcare coordination, investment in infrastructure, and specialized services. Findings underscore the need to integrate local efforts with broader political and policy changes to improve age-friendliness so that remote communities are not disadvantaged in resource allocation.

Aging in place · Disadvantaged · Population · Population ageing · Qualitative research · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

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