Aging in Place and Nursing Homes A Major Collaborative Research Initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Aging in Place and Nursing Homes Martha MacDonald Economics, Saint Mary’s University Presentation for Demographic Shift and Future of Work and Housing conference, ARGEAID, Saint Mary’s University, November 17, 2017

Overview of Project 7 year project funded by SSHRC; in final year International interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Pat Armstrong, York University Academics from 5 Canadian provinces, 3 American states, the UK, Sweden, Germany and Norway People trained in sociology, medicine, social work, history, media studies, philosophy, architecture, health policy and more 4 theme areas: approaches to care; financing and ownership; work organization; accountability Project website: http://reltc.apps01.yorku.ca/ Perspectives of workers, residents, families

Methods Ongoing secondary data and policy analysis Team case studies in each jurisdiction (2013-15) 6 countries, 4 provinces; > 2 sites each Selection based on promising practices Three small books offer popularly written ‘lessons learned’ from these site visits Promising Practices in Long-term Care Physical Environments for Long-term Care Exercising Choice in Long-term Residential Care

Implications for ‘Aging in Place’ What is ‘Place’? Where do nursing homes fit in the vision? Minimize or delay need for nursing homes? Make them positive ‘places’ to age? Managing and minimizing transitions

Considerations… Integrating the ‘places’ ‘Place’ as community Non-linear transitions, shared services The question of size, structure