Alert systems can engage the community to help locate missing persons with dementia. Evidence on the impact of implemented alert systems is minimal. Guided by three adapted Knowledge-to-Action Framework phases: identifying the problem, assessing barriers, and evaluating outcomes, this study aimed to examine understandings about alert systems and their implementation in Canada, Scotland, and the United States. A document review and interviews conducted with 40 interest holders (those with lived experience, first responders, service providers, and policymakers) underwent thematic analysis. Findings revealed variability in alert systems implementation and barriers at individual (limited understanding of alert systems, privacy concerns, alert fatigue) and organizational levels (sustainability, accessibility, privacy legislation). Participants recommended the following for successful implementation of alert systems: clear policy, collaboration, ongoing assessment, and a localized, opt-in system with accessibility, public education, and sustainable funding. This information indicates under what conditions alert systems for missing persons with dementia could be implemented.

Tamil immigrants in Canada face high rates of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and significant barriers in accessing T2DM-related services. These barriers are often amplified for older adults, whose age-related needs intersect with cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors. This study explored the lived experiences of Tamil older adults accessing T2DM-related health care services in the Greater Toronto Area. A qualitative interpretive description approach was used, involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine Tamil older adults. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis was applied, with findings organized using Levesque et al.’s framework (2013). Five key themes were identified: (1) timely and informed diabetes management, (2) reliance on trusted health service providers, (3) reliance on others for transportation, (4) financial factors, and (5) navigating health care through cultural and communication factors. Identified themes can inform potential solutions to improve access including centralized resource hubs, culturally tailored education programs, affordable transportation options, and an integrated health care approach.

Les enjeux éthiques de la pratique de l’ergothérapie auprès de personnes aînées en centre hospitalier n’ont pas été à ce jour documentés d’une manière large et globale. L’objectif de l’étude était de décrire ces enjeux suivant la perspective d’ergothérapeutes du Québec. Des entrevues individuelles ont été réalisées avec des ergothérapeutes dans le cadre d’une étude qualitative d’inspiration phénoménologique. Trois analystes se sont concertées lors de l’analyse des verbatims des entretiens. Vingt ergothérapeutes ont pris part à l’étude. Sept unités de sens émergent des données, lesquelles attestent que plusieurs valeurs sont bafouées dans le quotidien de la pratique, telles que l’autonomie décisionnelle des personnes aînées, leur autonomie fonctionnelle, leur dignité, l’accessibilité et la qualité des services ergothérapiques, la reconnaissance de la profession ergothérapique, la collaboration interprofessionnelle et la bientraitance des personnes aînées. Les résultats rejoignent ceux documentés dans les écrits, tout en identifiant plusieurs enjeux éthiques non documentés à ce jour.

Longitudinal qualitative inquiry from a social gerontological perspective can offer unique insights into older adults’ wellbeing and home care service trajectories. This temporal case study of 12 older home care clients analysed 136 interviews over three time points with 53 home care network actors in Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Many clients and families grappled with service changes almost daily, even if the level or type of service appeared officially stable. The pandemic added further disruption, shaping clients’ lives, wellbeing, and relationships, as well as their access to and use of service. Notably, changes in clients’ wellbeing and needs for help were not necessarily straightforward nor always apparent to case coordinators, especially when these were tied to social, emotional, or relational wellbeing, or to clients’ living arrangements, housing, family, and community integration. Findings can enhance theorizing of change for older adults receiving home care and guide equity-informed policy and practice.

La gestion socioterritoriale du vieillissement constitue un enjeu fondamental au Nouveau-Brunswick. Comme cette province ne possède pas de stratégie territoriale du vieillissement, il revient aux municipalités d’aménager leur territoire afin de favoriser le vieillissement sur place. L’objectif de cet article consiste à évaluer la perception des élus municipaux, des intervenants communautaires et des aînés en ce qui a trait à la gestion socioterritoriale du vieillissement dans quatre villes du Nouveau-Brunswick. L’approche utilisée est celle des représentations sociales des acteurs à partir d’entrevues semi-dirigées. Sur le plan théorique, notre analyse s’appuie sur le modèle de gérontologie environnementale. Bien que les résultats de nos entretiens révèlent une satisfaction généralisée des répondants concernant l’implication des élus à la gestion socioterritoriale du vieillissement, des disparités persistent notamment au chapitre de l’accessibilité par rapport à certains édifices et au manque d’infrastructures dédiées spécifiquement aux aînés. Pour pallier ces difficultés, le déploiement d’une stratégie territoriale du vieillissement multiniveau constitue une piste de solutions à envisager.

The aim of the current exploratory study was to understand the experiences of Canadian Jewish older adults following the October 7, 2023 attack and the Israel–Hamas war. Relying on a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 older adults (ages 65–92; 60% women) and with 11 service providers (ages 33–67; 72% women) who work with Jewish older adults in the greater Vancouver area. Participants were deeply affected by the October 7 attack and the ensuing Israel–Hamas war. Furthermore, they experienced the public discourse surrounding the attack and the war as anti-Israeli and at times antisemitic, upending their sense of safety and belonging. Some individuals were doubly impacted by these events, among them Holocaust survivors and their offspring and Jewish older adults who were LGBTQ+. Future avenues are suggested for improving the well-being of Jewish older adults living in the Diaspora in the current political and social climate.

Preparing and filing taxes has become an increasingly digital task. Older adults need to file taxes to qualify for benefits, but little is known about how older adults in Canada manage tax preparation, nor about how they get help. We investigated delegation mechanisms provided by the Canada Revenue Agency, documenting workflows needed to set up delegation and identifying privacy and security risks. We conducted a semi-structured interview study (n = 19) with older adults, formal tax volunteers, and informal tax helpers to understand the challenges and experiences in tax delegation. Our results show that the CRA’s delegation mechanisms are lightweight and enable older adults to delegate tasks to others with minimal privacy and security risks. However, we found these lightweight mechanisms were not known about or used by the older adults who delegated to informal tax helpers, nor were they known about or used by any of the informal tax helpers we interviewed.

Social isolation and loneliness are concerns in gerontology. The impact of the human–animal interaction (HAI) on loneliness for older adults living alone is understudied. This scoping review explored the extent to which HAI is included in studies investigating social connectedness, specifically social isolation and loneliness, and if HAI bolsters healthy aging through increased perceived support. Following the PRISMA-ScR protocol, data from 58 articles were thematically categorized, identifying (a) existing inclusion of HAI; (b) definitions and descriptions of HAI; and (c) the relationships between HAI and loneliness outcomes, in social connectedness research. Studies including HAI (animal companions and animal-assisted interventions) have increased over time; many noting protection against loneliness and few noting health detriments. Older adults overwhelmingly consider interactions with companion animals as meaningful relationships, whether living at home or in care. Substantial knowledge gaps exist concerning the influence of HAI on perceived social connectedness for older adults living alone.

Many older adults living in a seniors’ residence (SR), especially those living with dementia, will have to be relocated in long-term care (LTC) despite the negative impact of these care transitions on physical and psychological well-being. Using a living lab methodology and focus group methods, a care approach was co-developed in collaboration with a SR and public home care services, to promote aging-in-place and delay relocations in LTC. Outcomes were assessed using Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Integrating best practices like staff training, care reorganization, personalized care based on the residents’ life stories, and stronger collaborations with the home care services, this approach allowed older adults with higher assistance needs to remain within their home. Relocations to LTC were delayed by approximately 3 months. Ultimately, aging-in-place was found to be relevant in providing evolving care to older adults living in a SR, though further studies are needed to document its financial impact.

This case study documents the characteristics of a Community Congregate Dining (CCD) for Japanese Canadian (Nikkei) seniors aged 65+ in the Greater Toronto Area and explores participants’ and providers’ experiences. Data were collected through (a) observations of six CCD sites; (b) qualitative interviews with 45 CCD program participants, 1 family member, 15 program providers and volunteers; and (c) analysis of policy and administrative documents about the CCD programs. Our thematic analysis identified social benefits, educational benefits, and the importance of Japanese meals and entertainment that together created a unique atmosphere of ‘Japanese-ness’ at the CCD. While the CCD fosters a sense of belonging and supports healthy aging among Nikkei seniors, the program’s success depends on managing diverse linguistic needs, maintaining opportunities for meaningful interaction, and ensuring transportation access. The findings highlight broader lessons for designing inclusive and culturally responsive social services for increasingly diverse Canadian older adults.

Approximately 25% of older adult residents who experience an acute change in health status are transferred from Long-Term Care (LTC) to Emergency Departments (ED). We explored the use of an intervention (i.e., LTC to ED) care and referral pathway, INTERACT® Change in Condition cards, and STOP AND WATCH tool, in informing decision making regarding resident transfers. We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with Health care Providers (HCPs) involved in the LTC to ED care pathway in Western Canada. Thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews was used to evaluate the use of the pathway and tools. We identified six themes influencing decision making around resident transfers including interprofessional practice and conflict, ambiguous and clear medical cases, ageism, health care providers’ goals, family involvement in resident care, and intervention tools. The intervention may be useful in streamlining, documenting, and increasing transparency in complicated LTC resident care and transfer decisions.

The Comprehensive Assessment of Neurodegeneration and Dementia (COMPASS-ND) is an observational study of more than 1100 participants across the dementia spectrum. This research note describes the development and features of the neuropsychological research battery, which is available in English and French. The training of staff and procedures for quality assurance are described. The battery assesses learning and memory, processing speed, attention, executive function, visuoperceptual processing, and language, and the available test scores are described. We outline our goals for future work including: (1) increasing the sociodemographic diversity of the participant cohorts, (2) determining the psychometric properties of the battery, (3) establishing robust normative data from control participants followed longitudinally, and (4) examining longitudinal data on individuals at risk of dementia and across the dementia spectrum. The COMPASS-ND neuropsychology data will provide a unique open-access database of deeply phenotyped participants with or at risk of dementia for Canadian and international researchers.