Family/Friend Caregivers

This study seeks to understand the impact of Canada's adult day program on attendees and non-attendees, especially those with dementia and other co-morbidities. A retrospective cohort study will be conducted, including older adults in the community who do or do not attend adult day programs in Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, Canada. The objectives are to (1) compare patterns of day program use (including non-use) by Canadian province (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba), and time, (2) compare characteristics of older adults by day program use pattern (including non-use), province, and time, and (3) to examine whether those who are exposed to day programs, compared to a propensity-score matched comparison group of non-exposed older adults in the community, enter long-term care homes at later times (primary outcome), are less likely to have depressive symptoms, physical and cognitive change, and have lower use of primary, acute, and emergency care (secondary outcomes).

This study seeks to understand the effects of adult day programs on older adults, especially those with dementia, and their caregivers. A prospective cohort study will be conducted in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. Participants will be (1) older adults with dementia who attend a day program, and their caregivers, and (2) older adults with dementia in the community who do not attend a day program, and their caregivers. The objectives are to (1) evaluate the effects of day programs on attendee and caregiver outcomes, and (2) compare day program use patterns, attendee and caregiver social identities, day program characteristics, and day program outcomes between the 4 provinces, and (3) to explore what attendee and caregiver social identities and day program characteristics are associated with study outcomes, and with day program attendance/non-attendance.