LIFE: Learning Informally From Elders

The Better Elder Services Today (BEST) Project helps frail elders maintain healthy, independent living through partnership with their formal and informal caregivers. This article reports on achieving one particular project goal: the development of community forums in which elders engaged in problem-solving with health care professionals and policy makers. The methodology involved community assessment and qualitative analysis of themes in 102 elders' responses to the question, "What has it been like for you trying to remain as independent as possible in the community?" Five predominant themes emerged: safety; problems communicating with health care providers; dissatisfaction with hospital services; complexity in access to community services; and fears about losses.