Rachel D Savage1,2, Kate Hardacre1, Aya Mahder Bashi1,3, Susan E Bronskill1,2,4, Colin Faulkner1,5, Jim Grieve6, Andrea Gruneir1,2,7, Lisa M McCarthy1,8,9,10, Stephanie A Chamberlain7, Kenneth Lam1,4,11, Nathan M Stall1,4,12, Lynn Zhu1, Paula A Rochon1,2,4,12. 1. Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. RTOERO, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 7. Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 8. Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 9. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 10. Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, Ontario. 11. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. 12. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the needs and values of older people is vital to build responsive policies, services and research agendas in this time of demographic transition. Older peoples' expectations and priorities for ageing, as well as their beliefs regarding challenges facing ageing societies, are multi-faceted and require regular updates as populations' age. OBJECTIVE: To develop an understanding of self-perceptions of ageing and societal ageing among Canadian retirees of the education sector to define a meaningful health research agenda. METHODS: We conducted four qualitative focus groups among 27 members of a Canadian retired educators' organisation. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: We identified four overarching themes: (1) vulnerability to health challenges despite a healthier generation, (2) maintaining health and social connection for optimal ageing, (3) strengthening person-centred healthcare for ageing societies and (4) mobilising a critical mass to enact change. Participants' preconceptions of ageing differed from their personal experiences. They prioritised maintaining health and social connections and felt that current healthcare practices disempowered them to manage and optimise their health. Although the sheer size of their demographic instilled optimism of their potential to garner positive change, participants felt they lacked mechanisms to contribute to developing solutions to address this transition. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a need for health research that improves perceptions of ageing and supports health system transformations to deliver person-centred care. Opportunities exist to harness their activism to engage older people as partners in shaping solution-oriented research that can support planning for an ageing society.
BACKGROUND: Understanding the needs and values of older people is vital to build responsive policies, services and research agendas in this time of demographic transition. Older peoples' expectations and priorities for ageing, as well as their beliefs regarding challenges facing ageing societies, are multi-faceted and require regular updates as populations' age. OBJECTIVE: To develop an understanding of self-perceptions of ageing and societal ageing among Canadian retirees of the education sector to define a meaningful health research agenda. METHODS: We conducted four qualitative focus groups among 27 members of a Canadian retired educators' organisation. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: We identified four overarching themes: (1) vulnerability to health challenges despite a healthier generation, (2) maintaining health and social connection for optimal ageing, (3) strengthening person-centred healthcare for ageing societies and (4) mobilising a critical mass to enact change. Participants' preconceptions of ageing differed from their personal experiences. They prioritised maintaining health and social connections and felt that current healthcare practices disempowered them to manage and optimise their health. Although the sheer size of their demographic instilled optimism of their potential to garner positive change, participants felt they lacked mechanisms to contribute to developing solutions to address this transition. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a need for health research that improves perceptions of ageing and supports health system transformations to deliver person-centred care. Opportunities exist to harness their activism to engage older people as partners in shaping solution-oriented research that can support planning for an ageing society.