Nova Scotia is very small in size and has about 921,000 inhabitants. Forty-three percent of people in Nova Scotia live in rural areas making the province one of the most rural provinces in the country (http://sorc.crrf.ca/ns/). About 15% of the rural population in Nova Scotia is over 65 years of age (www.statcan.gc.ca).
One major problem plaguing rural Nova Scotia is the out migration of young people and in migration of older people (http://sorc.crrf.ca/ns/). This change in demographics affects the rural communities as it “…has implications for succession planning, opportunities for youth, volunteerism, and community dynamics in general.” (http://sorc.crrf.ca/ns/).
Living in rural Nova Scotia has many health implications, including less years of disability free life, increased chances of being a smoker, and more likely to be obese than urban Nova Scotians (gpiatlantic.org). Unemployment rates are higher in the rural area than in the urban centers (gpiatlantic.org).
Challenges facing rural Nova Scotians are the closing of health services related to population decline, decrease in transportation options, and diminishing social resources (gpiatlantic.org).
Recently, Nova Scotia’s Health Minister announced the creation of seven new collaborative healthcare teams, and strengthening of 16 already exiting teams (globalnews.ca). Apparently, the teams will be built according to each community’s specific needs, so hopefully this will help some rural residents in Nova Scotia.
References
Global News, March 2018. https://globalnews.ca/news/4070561/nova-scotias-health-system-to-get-seven-new-collaborative-care-teams-minister/
Genuine Progress Index for Atlantic Canada. http://www.gpiatlantic.org/pdf/misc/ruralprofile.pdf
Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo62d-eng.htm
State of Rural Canada http://sorc.crrf.ca/ns/
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