Many older adults in Canada prefer to receive care at home rather than in long-term care homes; however, they face increased risks of falls and fractures, which can have serious consequences for their health and well-being. Existing guidelines for preventing fractures, which were designed for older adults living in long-term care facilities or in the community, were not specifically created for individuals receiving home care. Home care recipients have unique potential treatments and risk factors (i.e. elevated psychotropic medication use, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, tobacco/alcohol use). For example, home care recipients experience more non-hip fractures than those in long-term care, which may not be addressed in current guidelines. To address this gap, our project aims to adapt existing fracture prevention guidelines for use in home care settings. The result of our project will be tailored guidelines that can help reduce the risk of fractures and improve the overall health and well-being of older adults receiving care at home in Canada.
We are hoping to bring patient partners onboard to ensure that our research directly addresses the concerns and priorities of home care recipients and providers.
Eligibility
Must have experience, whether direct or indirect, with home care and fractures risk. Examples of individuals may include care partners or people receiving home care. We are looking to collaborate with patient partners interested in fracture prevention, geriatrics, and home care.
Time Commitment
Patient partners will attend virtual meetings every one to two months with the research team with the first meeting occurring in June 2025. Patient partners will be asked to help inform the project, share information with appropriate networks, and assist with participant recruitment.
The project’s anticipated start date is November 2025 with an anticipated end date of August 2026. Fifteen-20 hours for meetings and preparation is anticipated. Patient partners may be asked to participate in grant and presentation preparations, should they choose. There may also be the opportunity for future involvement in other home care, aging, and fracture related studies.
Compensation
No monetary appreciation is currently available (grant phase).