Need for, availability of, and barriers to the provision of long-term care services for older American Indians.

Based on a nationwide survey of 108 federally recognized American Indian communities, this paper describes the perceived need for and availability of long-term care services for older Natives who live in rural areas. Sources for the provision and funding of such services are identified, as are the barriers that prevent older American Indians from receiving services and tribes from offering them. Although the need for a wide variety of long-term care services was great, overall this need was only partially met. Many services were reported to be unavailable in Native communities. Bureaucratic requirements made services provision difficult and discouraged older American Indians and their families from using those services that were available.