Older Adults' Views on the Repositioning of Primary and Community Care

Abstract

Older adults are rarely consulted on health care restructuring. To address this gap, our study explored older adults' views on repositioning, a restructuring initiative to support independent living for older adults with complex chronic disease (CCD). We collected and analysed data from 83 older adults living in one small city and nine rural small towns where repositioning of primary and community care was occurring. Average participant age was 75 years; 56 (67%) were women, 44 (53%) had CCD, and 20 (24%) identified as Indigenous or South Asian. The four themes were: unfamiliarity with repositioning; optimism versus skepticism; improving primary and community care (through better home care, improved transportation, and more doctors); and, playing an active role to effect change. For repositioning to be successful, diverse service users must be fully included; rural-dwelling older adults' priorities for primary and community care need to be addressed, rather than using a cookie-cutter approach.