Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data

Some commonly used medications, such as medications for depression, allergies and sleep, have been found to decrease older adults' ability to move, walk and stand up from a chair. Studies have also shown that these medications may cause people to become confused. When this happens, older people may fall and need to be treated in hospital. We have very limited information on the use of these medications in aging Canadians. We have even less information on the characteristics (for example age and sex) of the older adults who use these medications. Our project will also look at how the use of these medications affect the sleep, the social participation and the mobility of aging Canadians. The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging has collected all the information needed to describe the use of these medications in the aging Canadian population. Our study will provide valuable information for the development of interventions to optimise the use of these medications in older adults.