A barrier to health and social care is anything that restricts the use of health and social services by making it more difficult for some individuals to access, use or benefit from.

Case Study

Gennelle is a 65 year old woman. She lives alone in her own flat. She had a stroke a while ago and now has limited mobility. She uses a walking frame, and her speech is not as clear as it used to be. Gennelle is happy living alone, but isn’t able to get out as much as she would like to. The lift in her building is often out of order and she can’t manage the stairs. Gennelle’s son visits once a month and her daughter takes her shopping once a week. Gennelle spends a lot of time watching television. She feels a bit lonely but doesn’t like to ask for help as she likes to be independent.