Reports and publications
Baseline Study of Seniors in the Capital Regional District
Sample: 1,278 older adults residing in the Capital Regional District (CRD), British Columbia.
Methods: From April to October of 1995, 1,278 face-to-face interviews were conducted with a representative sample of community-living seniors 65+ in the CRD.
Data Components: The survey dealt with a wide variety of issues including demographics, housing and living arrangements, social networks and support, health and utilization of health services, and lifestyles and quality of life.
Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Sample: To date, more than 46,000 participants between the ages of 45 to 85 years have been recruited.
Method: 20,000 participants provided information through telephone interview and 30,000 participants undergo physical examination and provide biospecimens
Data components: All participants provide a common set of information on demographic, social, physical, clinical, psychological, economic, and health service utilization aspects relevant to health and aging. Thirty thousand participants provides additional information through physical examination and collection of biospecimens (blood and urine samples)
Publications and Reports associated with CLSA:
A Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) dataset holds and describes variables collected from participants at each wave of data collection. The variable search tool enables researchers to locate items of interest within all available data collected from CLSA participants.
Currently, data emanating from over 20,000 tracking participants who completed the baseline 60-minute telephone interviews are available. Cognitive scoring is complete and these data will be available.
In its first report released on memory and cognition, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) has shown the performance of CLSA participants is similar to what has been observed in previous studies of cognition conducted in both French and English, lending support to the use of the CLSA cognitive measures in large, epidemiological studies of aging.
The research, published in The Clinical Neuropsychologist, found in a preliminary assessment of 20,000 Canadians between the ages of 45 and 85 that cognitive ability declined gradually across the youngest age group to the oldest age group. The results were no different for men or women or whether they were English- or French-speaking.
“These preliminary findings underscore the potential of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging,” said Dr. Holly Tuokko, a professor of psychology at the University of Victoria and lead author of the study. “What we have observed is that the CLSA cognitive measures are generating results that are comparable to previous studies, but with far larger sample sizes.”
Caregivers to Adults and Children in BC
Sample: 1,789 randomly sampled in BC, 1994-1995.
Methods: Participants completed a face-to-face interview which lasted approximately 1.5 hours. The sample was stratified by age and sex. A weighted formula has been calculated that takes the age and sex stratification into account. This weight factor is used on all analyses.
Data Components: (Unpaid) Caregivers, Living arrangement of care receivers; Demographics; health conditions of CR; mental conditions of CR; ADL & IADL of CR; Types of helps CG to CR; Care Burden and coping; Demographics of CG; physical and emotional health of CG; availability of the resources of care services - These data components are very similar with the General Society Survey Cycle 11, conducted by Statistics Canada.
Comparative Cost Analysis of Home Care and Residential Care
Sample: The cohorts were new admission to the B.C. continuing care (home care and residential care) system in the 1987/88, 1990/91, and 1993/94.
Methods: Data were obtained on three cohorts of clients for one year prior to initial assessment and three years post-assessment
Data Components:
Ethnic Group Membership and Old Age: The Chinese Elderly in British Columbia
Sample: Random sample of 830 Chinese seniors (65+) living in greater Vancouver and greater Victoria.
Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 830 older adults living in greater Vancouver (n=580) and greater Victoria (n=250) during the summer and fall of 1995. More were interviewed in Victoria to allow comparisons with Suzhou. A weight variable is available that reflects the correct proportions living in Vancouver and living in Victoria.
Data Components: Information was collected on demographics, physical health, well-being, use of health services, family and friends, expectations for care, social activities, involvement in the community, and the Head Tax issue.
Home Support Services in the Capital Regional District
Sample: Randomly selected sample of 567 clients in the CRD region
Methods: 567 clients and 36 proxy respondents (for those too ill or cognitively impaired to participate directly) were interviewed to determine the level of consumer satisfaction with the services being provided
Data Components: The survey was intended to determine clients perception of the services they were receiving and to examine the role of these services in maintaining client independence, autonomy, and quality of life. The survey covered questions about themselves, their health, their informal networks, and the services they were receiving.
Independence among Older Adults with Disabilities
Sample: Random sample of 830 Chinese seniors (65+) living in greater Vancouver and greater Victoria.
Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 830 older adults living in greater Vancouver (n=580) and greater Victoria (n=250) during the summer and fall of 1995. More were interviewed in Victoria to allow comparisons with Suzhou. A weight variable is available that reflects the correct proportions living in Vancouver and living in Victoria.
Data Components: Information was collected on demographics, physical health, well-being, use of health services, family and friends, expectations for care, social activities, involvement in the community, and the Head Tax issue.
Intermediate Care Facility
Sample: 510 residents in 77 long-term care facilities throughout British Columbia (excluding the far north).
Methods: All British Columbia facilities with at least 10 beds and that cared for persons with dementia (N=262) were surveyed between September 1995 and January 1996.
Data Components: Data on institutional care quality (pre-admission and admission procedures, non-use of physical and chemical restraints, staff training and education, physical environment, and flexibility of care) were collected during this first phase. During the second phase (1996-1998), data on resident outcomes (effect, mortality, cognitive function, agitated behaviors, physical dependency, expressive language skills, and social skills) were collected from residents, staff, and family first at admission and again in 12 months.
Respite from the Caregiver's Point of View
Sample: Fourteen caregivers, focus group, and a random selection of 243 caregivers on southern Vancouver Island (Capital Regional District minus the Gulf Islands).
Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 caregivers and a focus group of 5 women caregivers. All focused on what having a break means to them. A preliminary typology of meanings was derived. Face-to-face interviews were then conducted with 243 randomly-selected caregivers in the Capital Regional District (minus the Gulf Islands).
Data Components: The interview covered the areas of demographics, social network characteristics, care recipient characteristics, employment, and burden. The representative sample of 243 caregivers was also asked what having a break means to them.
Seniors Drug Focus Project
Sample: A province-wide representative telephone survey 1,699 seniors (65+) in 1996.
Methods: Construction of the questionnaire was based on the results of a series of 17 focus groups with seniors and clinicians and interviews with senior Pharmacare policy makers.
Data Components: Medications and health history; expectation of prescriptions and generic substitution; knowledge and perceptions about reference based pricing; general policy questions; and demographics.
Voluntary Action by Seniors in Canada
Sample: 70,000 Canadians 15 years of age and older
Methods: For screening questionnaire, 85% of the respondents were interviewed in a 30 minutes telephone interview and other 15% were interviewed face-to-face. For the follow-up, respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire and return it in an enclosed post-paid envelope. The initial screening questionnaire determined whether individuals had been involved in formal and/or informal volunteering from November 1986 to October 1987. A follow-up questionnaire gathered more detailed information on formal volunteering, that is, volunteer activity performed in or through an organization.
Data Components: Data covered information on age, educational level, income, health, gender, and other variables such as religion, ethnicity, labor force status, place of residence and marital status.
Volunteer Drivers in the Greater Victoria Area
Sample: Volunteers from the James Bay Community Project, Saanich Volunteer Services Society, and Capital City Volunteers
Method: Volunteers were interviewed in person or by telephone regarding their experiences as volunteer drivers as well as their perceptions of the positive and negative aspects of this involvement to understand the facilitators and barriers to engaging in this activity.
Data Components: The project questions were designed to describe the characteristics and qualities of volunteer drivers (who drive seniors to medical appointments)