Institutionalization Of The Elderly In Canada

Institutionalization of the Elderly in Canada provides information regarding the care of elderly people in long-term care institutions in Canada. The monograph presents the nature and operation of the system of long-term institutional care of the elderly in Canada. The book provides a definition and historical outline of institutional care; the various types of available facilities, and the populations for which these institutions are designed; and the issues concerning the interface between community-oriented services and institutions. The health and functional abilities of the elderly and the programs which may be needed for the care of the long-stay elderly resident; issues on attitudes towards institutionalization, excessive medication, inappropriate placement and divided jurisdictional responsibility; and the quality and outcomes of care and the implications of government policy and programs are extensively discussed as well. Gerontologists, healthcare professionals, and medical administrators will find the book of value.

This discussion paper provides a general overview of concepts and issues concerning abuse and neglect of older adults in institutional settings. It begins with a description of abuse and neglect in institutions, outlining terminology and describing guiding principles for positive relationships within institutions. This is followed by a general description of a caring environment, noting similarities and differences between abuse and neglect in community and institutional settings. The third chapter explores the current knowledge base on abuse and neglect in institutional settings. Chapter four describes characteristics of institutional life which may lead to abuse and neglect and those characteristics of older adults in institutions that may leave them vulnerable. The final chapter describe procedures for identifying, reporting, investigating and documenting abuse and neglect; the timing and manner of interventions; and strategies for preventing abuse and neglect.

Seniors are one of the fastest growing population groups in Canada. This report depicts the demographic characteristics, living arrangements and family situation, housing, health, education, work patterns and related activities, income and expenditures, and lifestyles of the population aged 65 and over. It also examines some of these issues, where data allow, in terms of different age groups, for example, those aged 85 and over, within the senior population. The report includes approximately 80 tables and 35 charts, supported by text. It presents the most comprehensive statistical picture of the situation of Canada's senior population with data drawn from a wide array of sources including the census, as well as other surveys such as the National Population Health Survey, General Social Survey, and Survey of Consumer Finances.

Canada has one of the highest rates of institutionalization of elderly people in the world. As the population ages, the number of elderly Canadians in nursing homes will grow by leaps and bounds. In End of the Line, Maria Bohuslawsky offers a detailed look at Canada's nursing homes, focusing both on the institutions themselves and on the people inside them. Through sketches of nursing-home residents and their families, as well as nursing-home staff, she paints a picture of the homes that leaves nothing unexplored. First published in 1989, End of the Line remains a timely and provocative examination of the quality of care experienced by senior citizens in Canada's nursing homes.