Growing old in rural Tasmania: a pilot study of service needs and the impact of migration patterns to and from rural settings

This paper reports the results of a pilot research project examining the health service needs of rural and regional seniors in the Cradle Coast communities of north west Tasmania. The study examined older peoples' living situation, mobility, education and employment, financial status, quality of life and activities, social networks, transport options, and current and projected health service usage. It investigated health related factors that affect inward and outward migration in rural and regional areas.