Modeling the Influence of Social Ties and Transportation Choice on Access to Oral Healthcare for Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: The current U.S. demographic shift toward an older population and the importance of intervening before conditions become severe warrant a concerted effort to ease the burden of access to healthcare for older adults. With regard to oral healthcare, more integrated services for older adults are needed to effectively serve their complex medical and dental needs. Using an agent-based simulation model, this paper examines the influence of social ties and transportation mode choices on opportunities for older adults to participate in community-based preventive screening events and access needed oral healthcare. This approach accounts for the heterogeneity of behavior that arises for a population exhibiting diversity in terms of social factors, including socioeconomic means and social support. In

SUBMITTER: Jin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6039129 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature