Access to and experience with the healthcare system in later life can reflect a lifelong accumulation of social inequalities. Some older adults indeed face obstacles when trying to use formal healthcare services. In response to these challenges, they may rely on social support networks related to health. The dynamic interactions between the barriers encountered and the resources and reserves mobilized to meet healthcare needs are at the heart of the ANCHOR project. Understanding these dynamics is essential for improving healthcare for older adults who are most vulnerable to social health inequalities.
What don’t we know yet?
As people age, their health often requires increased attention and care. Yet, access to the healthcare system remains fraught with obstacles for some retirees. For example, older adults with a migration background are particularly exposed to inequalities. These have been documented internationally—such as difficulties accessing healthcare services (e.g., in hospitals or with family doctors), differences in the medical treatment received, or issues related to reimbursement for healthcare costs. In the face of these challenges, retirees may draw on their individual or social resources and reserves, such as the support provided by family and friends.
In Switzerland, one in four older adults was born abroad. Yet, no study has specifically explored the barriers they face within the healthcare system, nor the resources and reserves they mobilize to overcome these challenges (Martinelli, 2025).
What are we trying to find out?
This project aims to:
- identify the barriers that older adults face in accessing and navigating the healthcare system in French-speaking Switzerland;
- identify the groups of older adults most vulnerable to difficulties using the healthcare system in this region;
- understand the dynamic interactions between barriers, resources, and reserves through which older adults address their healthcare needs;
- understand how older adults surround themselves with people who support them in managing their health.
Understanding these factors is crucial to rethinking strategies for support and improving equity in access to and use of the healthcare system among retired populations.
How are we seeking to clarify these issues?
To better understand retirees’ access to and experience with the healthcare system in French-speaking Switzerland, we are using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews) components. First, older adults’ experiences will be collected through a questionnaire. Participants will be contacted both through associations they belong to and by mail. The questionnaire will be available in 11 languages, depending on participants’ preferences. Next, individual interviews will be conducted to shed light on the questionnaire findings and to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by older adults’ social networks in managing their health.
Important links
Questionnaire : Information (see PDF)
