Table 2 Themes emerging from the qualitative analysis of community focus group discussions, mapped to the COM-B model [38]. Themes generating most discussion are in bold text

Physical

Social

Reflective

Disability/ill-health impedes access to care for older adults

Health worker attitudes and interactions with older adults

Older adults’ not seeing the need for health care; acceptance of death

Disability/ill-health restricts older adults’ ability to work and socialise

Family/community attitudes and behaviour towards older relatives

Family values and respect for older relatives directly influences quality of home-based care

Health worker altruism linked to proactive health care and social support

Psychological

Physical

Automatic

Mental health affects well-being and care-seeking of older adults

Preference for community-based services that target the health care needs of older adults

Older adults’ fear of ageing, including loneliness, independence, financial and carer support

Health worker knowledge and skills affects health care needs of older adults

Accessible transport as a key to obtaining appropriate care

Dissatisfaction with the process of seeking care due to health worker attitudes and long facility wait times.

Family and carers’ knowledge/capacity to provide care for older adults

Poor access to essential medicines, mobility devices and health products.

Older persons’ knowledge of available social and health services

Health care facilities and services not responsive to the needs of older adults

Equipping carers to enhance healthy ageing

The link between an age-friendly environment and achieving good health in older age

Impact of social welfare schemes on the quality of life of older adults and their families

Policy environment lacks leadership and mechanisms to drive cross-sectoral coordination and implementation