Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

"Adult Day Programs are services offered in the community to people, commonly older people, who need help with activities. Interest in Adult Day Programs is increasing because of their ability to maintain the health of individuals and keep people living at home. These abilities are necessary in a health system addressing the needs of an aging population. Research has shown the positive impacts of Adult Day Programs from the perspectives of clients and unpaid caregivers. It has also considered the impact of Adult Day Programs on health systems. However, application of this research to the Canadian context is limited as this research is rarely conducted in Canada. Past research has also not considered the perspectives and influence of those who lead and manage Adult Day Programs. The proposed research involves interviewing leaders of Adult Day Programs to determine their perspectives on the current barriers to, facilitators of, and recommendations for Adult Day Programs. During these interviews, areas such as access to Adult Day Programs and care transitions will be discussed. The results of these interviews will be disseminated to and discussed with other stakeholders of Adult Day Programs, such as clients, unpaid caregivers, and health service providers. This research is an important stage in a larger program of research that will examine the perspectives of many Adult Day Program stakeholders and the impacts of Adult Day Programs on these stakeholders. The outcomes of this research will be used to adjust Adult Day Programs to the needs of an aging population through strategies such as changes to services, systems, and policies. These changes will strengthen the Canadian health care system and its effectiveness in addressing later life experiences."