Abstract

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Abstract
Keywords
Findings
Authors

Abstract

Based on data from the 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey—Healthy Aging, this article provides current information about home care use and unmet home care needs of community-dwelling seniors aged 65 or older. Home care is assistance received at home for a health-related reason in the 12 months before the interview. It includes formal care provided by paid workers or volunteer organizations and informal care provided by family, friends and/or neighbours. In 2009, 25% of seniors received home care services. The percentage receiving home care increased with age and ill health. As well, seniors who lived alone were more likely to have received home care than were those who lived with others. Housework and transportation were the most common types of care reported. Family, friends and neighbours provided the majority of care across all care types. Nearly 180,000 seniors (4%) reported having unmet needs for professional home care.

Keywords

Activities of daily living, aged, caregiving, elderly, geriatrics, independent living, social support

Findings

Population aging, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and changes to health care delivery contribute to the need for home care. Home care services for seniors can alleviate demands for hospitalization, and can reduce readmissions and the likelihood of institutionalization. Home care can also be more cost-efficient than residential care. [Full Text]

Author

Melanie Hoover (1-613-951-0346; melanie.hoover@statcan.gc.ca) is with the Health Statistics Division and Michelle Rotermann is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.