Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The number of elderly people living alone is greater today than previous generations. This is due in part to later commencement of childbirth, higher divorce rates, and families living further apart. In Canada, many of these people are aging alone without social support and this often coincides with financial strain. Low social support is associated with premature mortality, poorer overall health, and an increased rate of institutionalization. Low socioeconomic status (SES) associated with poor health generates more complex health care admissions and increased health care costs. My hypothesis is that low social support and low SES have individual and combined measurable effects on mortality rates and hospital burden in Canada. The methods used in this research include analyzing linked health survey data (measures of SES, social support, behavioural risk variables, and disease severity) with patient discharge and mortality outcomes data. Statistical analysis includes Cox survival models incorporating time to event analysis of SES and social support of individuals over 65. an online survey (n=1018) with health care and social workers across North America was conducted to understand how frequently older patients in hospitals are found with low social support, how this has changed over time, how low social support impacts discharge decisions, and what strategies can be implemented to promote healthful aging and reduce health care burden. Social determinants of health have begun to be factored into European public health strategies but Canadian policy has not yet really begun to address factors outside of the health care system that affect health and health care burden. The results of this research should initiate a longer term research program and policy strategy on the role of social support in aging with the related objectives of improving overall population health and reducing health care burden in Canada.