Survey: Older Canadians lack guidance, tools to safely age-in-place

TORONTO, July 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, TELUS Health, together with the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), released the findings from a new survey that sheds light on how older Canadians can be better supported to age well, safely and independently. The 2022 survey of Canadian healthcare practitioners (HCPs) demonstrates the need to prioritize conversations surrounding innovative solutions to enable ageing-in-place: 95 per cent of HCPs surveyed discussed emergency situations with patients at least once in a month; however only 11 per cent of those discussions included the use of Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) technology, which is known to provide added safety and support.

“It’s estimated that one in three individuals aged 65 years and older experience a serious fall each year, so proactive discussions between healthcare providers and their patients about how to incorporate healthy ageing practices and tools like PERS — which we know is a beneficial technology to support people during emergencies — are so important as our population ages,” said Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA.

The survey of 125 Canadian healthcare professionals, conducted by MD Analytics between December 2021 and January 2022, discovered that 89 per cent of general practitioners and nurses are unlikely to discuss PERS unprompted. In many cases, HCPs are unaware of the rapidly evolving technological solutions that can help better enable their patients to age-in-place, and which to recommend. Proactive discussions during in-person or virtual appointments, whether directly with a patient and/or their caregiver, are key for ensuring ageing adults have the support they need to live in greater safety and independently for as long as possible.

“It’s incredibly important as we age to have the proper resources and technological tools to live longer, healthier lives, without compromising dignity or independence,” said Juggy Sihota, Vice-president Consumer Health, TELUS Health. “This recent study underscores the critical need for discussions about innovative technologies that are affordable, reliable and offer peace of mind to older Canadians and our loved ones as they age.”

This year’s survey findings also reaffirm previous research findings from TELUS Health and the NIA — 99 per cent of Canadian older adults plan to stay as active as they can to maintain their optimal health and independence, but the lack of discussions about available innovative support signals further education is needed. TELUS Health continues to empower HCPs and other medical professionals to support their ageing patients with knowledge and resources about the latest innovations, such as PERS like LivingWell Companion and TELUS Health Companion on Apple Watch.

The NIA leads cross-disciplinary research to better understand issues and develop insights that can meaningfully contribute to shaping innovative policies, practices and products to address challenges and opportunities for Canada’s ageing population. It is dedicated to enhancing successful ageing across the life course, considering a broad range of perspectives, including those of financial, physical, psychological, and social wellness.

Together, TELUS Health and the NIA are proud to collaborate to empower Canadians and HCPs alike with the knowledge and tools to enable Canadians to live safely, independently, and longer in their own homes if they so choose, as they age.

About The National Institute on Ageing
The National Institute on Ageing is a Toronto Metropolitan University think tank focused on the realities of Canada’s ageing population. Follow us on Twitter @NIAgeing and support our call for a National Seniors Strategy @NSS_Now.

About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is a leader in digital health technology, providing virtual care, home health monitoring, electronic medical and health records, benefits and pharmacy management, and personal emergency response services. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services, TELUS Health is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied healthcare professionals, insurers, employers, and citizens, to progress its vision of transforming healthcare and empowering people to live healthier lives.

Through TELUS Health Care Centres, teams of renowned and passionate healthcare professionals deliver best-in-class patient-centric care to thousands of Canadian employers, professionals, and families in more than 15 medical clinics located across the country.

For more information please visit: www.telushealth.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica McDonald
TELUS Public Relations
jessica.mcdonald@telus.com

Stephanie MacLellan
Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
National Institute on Ageing
stephanie.maclellan@ryerson.ca

An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c3e0f081-a8e9-47e2-acae-3e83176dcb04