Vineyarders need to begin encouraging more thoughtful discussion about end-of-life plans, eight rural scholars from the University of Massachusetts medical school concluded in a recent mini-study on the Island.
Reproductive health care on the Vineyard is notably lacking in education, communication and access. This was the conclusion of eight rural scholars who recently spent two weeks on the Island studying the issue.
Once again, the rural scholars program visited the Vineyard to study a pressing Island issue. This year's topic was homelessness and the housing shortage.
Five medical students spent the past two weeks on the Island studying elder care and services as part of the rural scholars program. Neglect by a caregiver and self neglect were cited as the top two types of abuse facing Vineyard elders.
By the year 2020 one-quarter of the Vineyard will be over the age of 65.
By the year 2025 that number is expected to jump to 30 per cent, according to findings by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute.
As a wave, or tsunami rather, of baby boomers is expected to populate the Vineyard in the coming years, the Island faces a number of challenges delivering health care to its seniors. Six rural health scholars from the University of Massachusetts Medical School recently documented those challenges in a report on the current mental health needs of the Island’s elderly population. Transportation, isolation and access to mental health services emerged as major areas needing improvement.
