Francophone aging populations: Living conditions, health status, and experiences in long-term care
Research team
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Co-PI
L. Bouchard and J. Savard (U Ottawa)
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Co-IM. Lagacé, B. Ray, K. Sauvé-Schenk (U Ottawa)
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Partners
French-Language Health Service Planning Entities ; Fédération des ainés et des retraités francophones de l’Ontario (FARFO); Réseau des services de santé en français de l’Est de l’Ontario
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SupportOntario Ministry of Health for access to a BDSSF subfile
Funding agency
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CIHR ($363,376)Period: 2021-2025
Summary
This research aims to better understand the living conditions, health status, and care experiences of older Francophone adults living in a linguistic minority context in Ontario, particularly in the face of language discordance while receiving long-term care, at home or in residence. The study seeks to identify their specific needs in order to improve the provision of services that are adapted in accordance to the principles of “patient-centered care” and “linguistically adapted and culturally competent services.”
This project aims to address a data gap concerning a population that is largely absent or underrepresented in health reports. It builds on previous research showing that minority language status can have a significant impact on health status and the quality of services received. Scientific literature confirms that the needs of older adults are strongly influenced by their individual circumstances, such as the language they speak and where they live. However, Francophone minority communities, which are aging faster than the Canadian average, are seeing their care needs grow rapidly, while the effects of language discordance on the health, quality, and safety of care remain largely unexplored in Canada.
Three objectives guide the study: 1) Analyze and map the living conditions, geographic distribution, and sociodemographic characteristics of Francophone older adults to identify the main social determinants of health; 2) Establish a profile of their health status and functional limitations; 3) Examine the care experience provided to or received by Francophone older adults to assess the impact of language barriers and discrepancies on health, well-being, and the quality and safety of services, from the perspectives of managers, practitioners, and order adults or their family caregivers.
The methodological approach is based on a contextual analysis of health that combines: 1) multilevel spatial analysis, 2) quantitative analysis of national health survey data (notably the CCHS), and 3) qualitative analysis of interviews with order adults or their family caregivers, practitioners, and health care facility managers.
The results will make it possible to better target health inequalities, identify priority needs, identify the most vulnerable population groups, and assess the capacity of health systems to respond equitably. This will lead to recommendations, infographics, an atlas of the older adult populations, and the dissemination of best practices promoting the well-being and health of Francophone minority communities.