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Health care needs of community-dwelling older adults
P Krueger1, K Brazil, L Lohfeld
1St. Joseph's Health Care System Research Network, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, Brantford, ON N3S 6T6. kruegerp@mcmaster.ca
Objective:
To identify, assess, and rank the importance of health care needs of community-dwelling older adults.
Method:
A structured telephone interview with 107 respondents (physicians, direct service providers and administrators) about the importance of a list of 31 health care needs of older adults. Respondents also identified the single most important health issue facing local older adults now and in the next 5 to 10 years.
Results:
The five most important health care needs, in descending order, are: care-giver support services, community long-term care services, services for people with dementia/Alzheimer's disease, palliative/end-of-life care, and services for cancer patients and their families. Community long-term care services were identified as the single most important health issue both now and in the next 5 to 10 years.
Conclusion:
The study findings should be of value to health and social service researchers, planners, providers and administrators regarding the needs of community-dwelling older adults.