Grant: Team Grant: Community-Based Primary Healthcare - Full Application

Identifying effective interventions to improve quality of life for older adults is a public health priority. Older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are most likely to benefit from such interventions. The purpose of this research program is to evaluate innovative community-based primary healthcare interventions to promote optimal aging for older adults living in the community with MCC and to support their family caregivers. The research program is composed of six interrelated studies focused on enhancing our understanding of 1) how older adults with MCC, family caregivers and health professionals manage MCC; 2) the factors, health outcomes and costs associated with MCC; 3) the influence of gender, age, education, income and other factors on the quality of life of family caregivers of older adults with MCC; 4) the effectiveness and costs of a Toolkit and volunteer support for family caregivers of older persons with Alzheimer's disease and MCC; 5) the effectiveness and costs of a client-driven interprofessional intervention to support self-management among older persons with Type 2 Diabetes and MCC; and 6) the effectiveness and costs of a community navigation and rehabilitation intervention for stroke survivors with MCC using home care services. This research will be conducted in Ontario and Alberta by an interdisciplinary team of investigators, health professional scientists and clinicians, advised by patients and families, and supported by senior health system decision-makers. Training opportunities will be included for graduate students and new investigators. Two knowledge translation events will be held to share study results with key stakeholders and to plan ways to implement successful programs more widely. This research program will result in knowledge that can be used to guide health services policy decisions and the allocation of resources in community-based primary healthcare for older adults with MCC across Canada.