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The Care of Irreversible Dementia Sufferers in the Toronto and Peel Regions: Perceptions of Service Providers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

S. Lynne MacFadgen
S. Lynne MacFadgen
Affiliation:
Extendicare Health Services Inc., Toronto
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Abstract

In this study, the system of care for 4907 irreversible dementia (ID) sufferers in Metropolitan Toronto and the Region of Peel was investigated. Mail survey data were compiled from senior administrative personnel (data include observation ratings by clinical and direct service staff) within 41 long-term care facilities, 15 acute care hospitals, and 30 community services. Consistent with the results of other descriptive studies, the findings reveal that: 1) long-term care facilities had the highest average proportion of ID sufferers; 2) the majority of ID sufferers were 75 years and older and predominantly female; and 3) ID sufferers on community service caseloads were less impaired than those in long-term care facilities. The study findings also indicate that the following factors may be important in assessing the care and management of ID sufferers within long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals: type of facility, admission criteria, arrangements for accommodation, number and nature of special programs, extent of inservice training, levels of staffing, and number and nature of family support services. In addition to these variables, the location and size of the catchment area and eligibility criteria may be important factors in similar community service assessments. The findings pertaining to the frequently used inpatient and community resources, additional resources required, and unmet needs of ID sufferers and family are discussed with respect to health care and senior support service planning and implementation within the outlined regions.

Résumé

Cette étude porte sur le système de soins offerts à 4907 personnes souffrant de démence irréversible (DI) dans Toronto Métropolitain et la région de Peel. Une enquête fut faite par la poste auprès des cadres administratifs supérieurs de 41 établissements de soins prolongés, 15 hôpitaux de soins à court terme et 30 centres de services de santé communautaire. Les résultats sont cohérents avec ceux des études descriptives précédentes sur ce sujet et concluent que: 1) les établissements de soins prolongés avaient en moyenne la proportion la plus élevée de cas de DI; 2) la majeure partie des individus souffrant de DI étaient âgés de 75 ans ou plus et de sexe féminin; 3) les patients souffrant de DI qui relevaient des services de santé communautaire étaient moins incapacités que ceux des centres de soins prolongés. Les résultats suggèrent aussi l'importance des critères suivants pour évaluer les soins et la gestion des cas de DI dans les établissements de soins prolongés et les hôpitaux à court terme: le genre d'établissement, les critères d'admission l'aménagement des lieux, le nombre et la nature des programmes spéciaux, l'importance des programmes de formation au travail, la proportion de personnel/patients, et l'éventail des services de soutien aux familles. En ce qui concerne les services de santé communautaire, leur évaluation devrait aussi considérer la situation géographique et l'étendue du bassin de population ainsi que les critères d'admission. Les conclusions au sujet des ressources d'hospitalisation et de santé communautaire les plus en demande ainsi que des nouvelles ressources nécessitées par les besoins des individus souffrant de DI et leurs familles, sont discutés sous l'aspect de la planification et de l'organisation des soins et de leur encadrement, dans les régions étudiées.

Keywords

Irreversible Dementia (ID)descriptive surveyTorontoPeel
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , Winter/Hiver 1987 , pp. 271 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1987

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