High rates of emergency department use among older adults persist despite ongoing efforts to improve access to integrated care. Avoidable emergency visits, which could be managed in other care settings, raise concerns regarding continuity and coordination of care and may reflect barriers to access, including those related to language discordance.

This study aims to better understand the relationships between recurrent and potentially avoidable emergency department visits, language discordance, and the care needs of older adults in order to inform the practices of the Montfort Hospital and its community partners, particularly the ARCHIPEL Ontario Health Team. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study will identify population-level patterns in health service use and outcomes while also shedding light on the more complex factors that shape care trajectories. Patients themselves will play a central role in the research process to ensure that the resulting recommendations are responsive to their needs and contribute to improving care for older adults, particularly within Francophone communities.