Communities of Practice (CoPs) are a powerful strategy for supporting knowledge sharing amongst members working in a common field. Information, knowledge and evidence in the field of older adult healthcare and aging have grown exponentially over the past decade. This study reports results from a secondary qualitative analysis of ethnographic data…

An understanding of the specific dementia learning needs of home care staff is needed to plan relevant continuing education (CE) programs and supports. The study's objective was to examine frequency and perceived competence in performing 20 dementia-related work activities, and identify CE priorities among home care staff. A cross-sectional survey…

The need to attend to terminally ill persons and provide improved quality of living and dying should be a national priority in Canada. Hospice palliative care (HPC), a person-centered approach that addresses the needs of the whole person, improves the quality of living and dying of persons facing a life-threatening illness. To ensure Canadians are…

Discusses Project SCOPE (Seniors' Community Outreach Programs and Education) which provided an enriched on-the-job training program in community health work. Activities were directed toward developing skills in conducting a needs assessment, networking, care planning, resource utilization and community development. Discusses project's…

Health care providers may encroach on individual autonomy of older persons, especially those they define as at risk. Providers should seek to promote self-care skills, define the client as a group or community, and recognize clients' role in forming healthy public policy. (SK)

Caring for patients with dementia is complex and demanding. Since family physicians (FPs) provide much of this care, we examined their practices, learning needs, and barriers to care concerning Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We surveyed 392 (approximately 50%) Nova Scotia FPs and conducted focus groups and interviews with: FPs; staff of…

Found that senior citizens in a residential setting with in-house nursing services emphasizing health education had significantly greater health knowledge and behaviors than those in residences receiving traditional nursing services. All study participants reported having obtained health information in an individual (rather than a group) setting.…