A review of available journal articles and reports resulted in little current information on the issues surrounding access to health care services, the health needs of elderly Métis women, the health needs of rural and remote residents or the provision of informal care services. [...] B. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES The increasing number of seniors, and specifically seniors of Aboriginal ancestry, is alarming when considered in the context of the particular health needs and concerns of those living and rural or remote communities. [...] In this section, we review existing research on the health needs of elderly women and their caregivers living in rural and remote communities, identify the current barriers in access to services and discuss how these issues affect those responsible for filling in the gaps through the provision of informal support. [...] Health professionals and researchers have examined the implications of marginality on the determinants of health and the delivery of health and social services. [...] This relates to both the ability of the medical personnel to get into a community and the feasibility of residents traveling outside of the community for appointments.