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An Examination of the Health Profile, Service Use and Care Needs of Older Adults in Residential Care Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

F. Aminzadeh ,
W.B. Dalziel ,
F. J. Molnar  and
J. Alie
F. Aminzadeh*
Affiliation:
Regional Geriatric Assessment Program of Ottawa (RGAP)
W.B. Dalziel
Affiliation:
Regional Geriatric Assessment Program of Ottawa (RGAP)
F. J. Molnar
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa Institute on Health of the Elderly
J. Alie
Affiliation:
Regional Geriatric Assessment Program of Ottawa (RGAP)
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Faranak Aminzadeh, Regional Geriatric Assessment Program of Ottawa, Geriatric Outreach 39 Robertson Rd., Suite 212, Nepean, ON K2H 8R2. ([email protected])
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Abstract

Private, unregulated residential care facilities have become an increasingly important component of the continuum of housing and care for frail older adults in Canada. To date, this growing segment of the older population has received very little research attention. This study involved an in-depth examination of the functional/health profile, patterns of service use, and medical/care needs of a representative sample of 178 older adults in residential care facilities in the City of Ottawa. The results indicate great diversity in resident and facility profiles in this setting and confirm earlier impressions that special care units in the residential care sector have become increasingly close to being unlicensed pseudo-nursing homes. Despite the heavy burden of care, the evidence suggests that the care needs of the majority of residents are adequately met in the residential care environment. The results can inform future research, case finding, educational, and policy planning initiatives in this setting.

Résumé

Au Canada, les établissements de soins privés non réglementés forment un volet de plus en plus important du continuum des soins et du logement des personnes âgées fragiles. Jusqu'à présent, les chercheurs se sont peu intéressés à ce segment croissant de la population. Pour mener à bien cette étude, on a examiné avec soin le profil de santé/profil fonctionnel, les schémas d'utilisation des services et les besoins médicaux/besoins en soins d'un échantillon représen- tatif de 178personnes âgées pensionnaires d'établissements de soins dans la ville d'Ottawa. Les résultats révèlent une grande diversité dans les profils des pensionnaires et des établissements et confirment ce que l'on soupçonnait déjà, à savoir que les unités de soins spéciaux du secteur des soins en établissements ressemblent de plus en plus à des « pseudo maisons de soins infirmiers» non agréées. Malgré le lourd fardeau de la prise en charge, les preuves réunies suggèrent que les besoins en soins de la plupart des pensionnaires sont convenablement satisfaits en établissements de soins. Ces conclusions pourront servir de base aux futurs travaux de recherche et initiatives de dépistage, de sensibilisation et de planification de politiques dans ce secteur.

Keywords

aginghealth and functional profileresidential carevieillissementprofil de santé et profil fonctionnelsoins en établissement
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 2004 , pp. 281 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2004

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