Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data - IPPH Mandate

Canada's population is aging rapidly, and more people than ever are relying on home care services to remain independent and live in their own homes. Home care includes two main types of support: formal paid services delivered by nurses, personal support workers, and other professionals, and informal care provided by family members, friends, or neighbours. At present, unpaid caregivers provide about three-quarters of all home care hours. While governments are investing heavily in home care, we still do not know enough about how different mixes and trajectories of formal and informal care affect people's health and independence as they age. Access to home care also varies widely. Each province has its own rules for who is eligible and what services are covered. Moreover, home care is gendered: women make up the majority of unpaid caregivers and are also more likely to need care later in life. People living in rural areas have fewer services available and face more barriers to getting the support they need. These differences mean that not all Canadians have the same chance to age in place with dignity. This study will use data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, which has followed thousands of Canadians aged 45-85 since 2011. We will focus on people aged 65 and older who already have health limitations or memory problems, as they are most likely to require home care. We will identify common patterns of home care use (such as mixed care, or increasing formal services) and track how these patterns change over time. We will then examine how different care patterns affect people's ability to function and overall health, and how these vary by province, sex/gender, and rurality. By providing new evidence on what types of care best support independence, this project will help governments and health systems make informed decisions about where to focus resources, ensuring older Canadians receive the right care at the right time to stay healthy at home.