Access to Primary Care for Older Adults

As the pandemic introduced new challenges in accessing appropriate care, it also created opportunities for innovative technologies and applications to enhance care quality. Our study aims to understand how access to both in-person and virtual care for older adults changed during the pandemic, examining the vulnerabilities associated with different social identities and the overall impact on their socio-economic well-being. We are focusing on two specific areas:

1. Waiting times for primary care appointments
2. Difficulties in obtaining required primary care services

Our scoping review on waiting times for primary care appointments among older adults reveals significant delays in seeing family physicians or nurses, which exacerbate health issues and increase the burden on patients and their caregivers. However, current evidence is limited regarding the reasons and mechanisms behind these delays. We are now seeking participants for a national survey to further investigate these challenges and improve access to timely and appropriate primary care in Canada.

PIPPS Team: Dr. Julia Smith; Dr. Anh Pham; Muhammad Haaris Tiwana. 
Research Assistant: Iqra Akram (non-PIPPS member)

Partners: International Federation on Aging

Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – Partnership Engagement Grant

Output: The survey results will provide insights into the difficulties faced by individuals aged 65 and over when seeking primary care, and how delays in receiving appropriate care have impacted them. This information will be valuable for guiding decision-makers in enhancing the accessibility and quality of primary care in Canada. We will use the survey findings to produce research papers, policy briefs, and presentations.