AVÐÇÇò

According to Statistics Canada, the seniors population — those 65 and older — is expected to grow by about 4 million people over the next 20 years.

The fastest growth will be among seniors 75 and older — with this population doubling in size in Canada by 2037.

We know seniors value their independence, and wish to remain in their homes as long as possible.

Canada’s continuing care systems provide a range of services to support seniors when they’re no longer able to live independently.

This range includes home care —typically for those with lighter care needs — supportive living, and residential care — for those with the highest care needs.

Currently, it’s estimated that approximately 1 in every 10 seniors age 75 and older lives in residential care.

As the growth of Canada’s seniors population accelerates over the next decade, our continuing care systems will need to adapt.

Health system decision-makers and planners want to ensure that the right services are available at the right time in the right care setting, while at the same time improving the sustainability of these continuing care systems.

To do this, they need a better understanding of how continuing care systems are currently used, and the populations they serve.

By making sure there is a close match between seniors’ care needs and their care settings, health system administrators and planners can make the most of their existing resources.

When seniors can no longer live independently, health care professionals assess their needs using standardized assessment instruments developed by interRAI.

interRAI is a not-for-profit international research network that’s committed to improving care for medically complex people and people with disabilities.

interRAI develops its instruments using proven research methods — and these instruments are used in virtually every health care sector.

The information collected during these assessments helps determine what types of services a person is eligible for, and what supports are most suitable.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information — or AVÐÇÇò — conducted a study to map the care pathways seniors typically follow through continuing care systems.

This study sheds light on many of the factors that influence seniors’ transitions through continuing care.

For example, most seniors admitted to residential care have higher care needs — such as requiring extensive physical assistance or having significant cognitive impairment.

However, this analysis shows that the care needs of some seniors entering residential care are similar to those of seniors typically supported by home care.

This signals an opportunity to improve the match between care needs and care settings.

We hope that these report findings inform and enhance dialogue among health system decision-makers and planners to help ensure our continuing care systems can best meet the needs of the growing seniors population.

To learn more about this study, download AVÐÇÇò’s report Seniors in Transition: Exploring Pathways Across the Care Continuum.

AVÐÇÇò: Better data. Better decisions. Healthier Canadians. [END]