Aging + Care
Integrated health networks:
Large health networks align the incentives of hospitals, primary care physicians, home care providers and other healthcare and social service delivery organizations across neighbourhoods, cities and regions enabling increased coordination and operational synergies and efficiencies.
Funding reform focused on value:
Funding increasingly shifts from a fee-for-service model to a value based model especially for older adults in order to incentivize upstream intervention focused on prevention and improved coordination.
Seniors are vocal and demand more choice:
Seniors are increasingly vocal about their wishes and demand the right to choose where they live as they age and how they are cared for. They march, petition, run for office and advocate for what they want.
Cultural and language preferences are addressed:
There is huge demand for services and care options that are culturally responsive and care provision in multiple languages is required.
Two-tier eldercare is exacerbated:
Increasing disparity in the accommodation and care options for older adults with and without the capacity to pay exacerbates the two-tier eldercare system. Those that can afford private care are well looked after, but those that cannot are unable to access sufficient levels of care.
A shift away from "warehoused care":
Large congregate care settings are retired and now seen as a flawed model with preferences shifting toward alternative smaller, person-centred options.
Entry of non-traditional players:
Non-traditional players leverage expertise from other sectors to disrupt and change the way Canadians receive health care, while also developing trust and collaboration with other health ecosystem players.
Supporting seniors with dementia is a national priority:
As the population of older adults with dementia increases, this demographic can no longer be ignored. Solutions to support this population both in the community and in more appropriate care facilities expand.
Equity in access to care:
Health care inequities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic are being addressed through increased efforts by governments and private sector players. They focus on expanding access to care for vulnerable and disproportionately impacted populations, so that all Canadians have a fair and equitable opportunity to reach their health potential regardless of social, economic, and environmental factors.
Rise of global health pandemics:
Growing concern about infection control in congregate settings and the ability for seniors to maintain social connection during periods of lockdown if another pandemic occurs.
A gap in support for seniors pre-LTC:
As waitlists of long-term care facilities grow, there is an increase in demand for care in the community while people wait. Complex continuing home care will be an important focus.
Formalizing the caregiver role:
The importance of the informal caregiver role is increasing. Caregivers are more empowered to talk about the strain associated with this role and provided with the resources needed to sustain it.
