Tamil immigrants in Canada face high rates of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and significant barriers in accessing T2DM-related services. These barriers are often amplified for older adults, whose age-related needs intersect with cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors. This study explored the lived experiences of Tamil older adults accessing T2DM-related health care services in the Greater Toronto Area. A qualitative interpretive description approach was used, involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine Tamil older adults. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis was applied, with findings organized using Levesque et al.’s framework (2013). Five key themes were identified: (1) timely and informed diabetes management, (2) reliance on trusted health service providers, (3) reliance on others for transportation, (4) financial factors, and (5) navigating health care through cultural and communication factors. Identified themes can inform potential solutions to improve access including centralized resource hubs, culturally tailored education programs, affordable transportation options, and an integrated health care approach.

Existing research on the health care utilization patterns of older Canadians suggests that income does not usually restrict an individual’s access to care. However, the role that income plays in influencing access to health services by older adults living in rural areas is relatively unknown. This article examines the relationship between income and health service utilization among older adults in rural and urban areas of British Columbia. Data were drawn from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 3.1. Multivariate regression techniques were employed to examine the influence of relative income on accessibility for 3,424 persons aged 65 and over. Results suggest that (1) relative income does not influence access to health care services; and (2) this is true for both urban and rural older adults. The most important and consistent predictors of access in all cases were those that measured health care need.