Abstract
We used a web-based mixed methods survey (HowsYourHealth - Frail) to explore the health of frail older (78% age 80 or older) adults enrolled in a home-based primary care program in Vancouver, Canada. Sixty per cent of eligible respondents participated, representing over one quarter (92/350, 26.2%) of all individuals receiving the service. Despite high levels of co-morbidity and functional dependence, 50 per cent rated their health as good, very good, or excellent. Adjusted odds ratios for positive self-rated health were 7.50, 95 per cent CI [1.09, 51.81] and 4.85, 95 per cent CI [1.02, 22.95] for absence of bothersome symptoms and being able to talk to family or friends respectively. Narrative responses to questions about end of life and living with illness are also described. Results suggest that greater focus on symptom management, and supporting social contact, may improve frail seniors' health.
Highlights
We used a web-based mixed methods survey (HowsYourHealth – Frail) to explore the health of frail older (78% age 80 or older) adults enrolled in a home-based primary care program in Vancouver, Canada
The study population was a sample of Home ViVE (HV) patients who agreed to complete the survey and who met the following inclusion criteria: the absence of advanced dementia; no difficulty communicating in English; absence of uncontrolled substance use; and absence of mental health issues judged by the patient’s primary
The primary reason for exclusion was the prevalence of advanced dementia, followed by difficulty communicating in English
Summary
We used a web-based mixed methods survey (HowsYourHealth – Frail) to explore the health of frail older (78% age 80 or older) adults enrolled in a home-based primary care program in Vancouver, Canada. Adjusted odds ratios for positive self-rated health were 7.50, 95 per cent CI [1.09, 51.81] and 4.85, 95 per cent CI [1.02, 22.95] for absence of bothersome symptoms and being able to talk to family or friends respectively. Mots clés : vieillissment, autoévaluation de santé, qualité de vie, personnes âgées fragiles et confinés chez soi, fin de vie Keywords: aging, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS), self-rated health, quality of life (QoL), homebound frail seniors, end of life. One quarter of seniors aged 85 and older report moderate, severe, or total limitation in activities of daily living (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2011). The most common of these limitations were not being able to bath or shower (15%), walk (11%), or use the washroom (10%) without help (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2011). Since the number of seniors in this age group is expected to dramatically increase over the two decades (Jagger et al, 2011), we will see a consequent rise in the number of frail seniors in our communities
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