Women face greater health risks as they age

TORONTO - A new survey reveals older women use more home and long-term care services than their male counterparts.

Researchers from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) found that women, who make up a significant portion of adults over 80 years of age, have a higher burden of disabling conditions and are more often alone in their later years.

“While the majority of older adults will remain relatively independent as they age, there are important concerns related to older adults who have particularly heavy needs or inadequate support – such as older women,” says Susan Bronskill, lead author and ICES scientist.

The report, “Health System Use by Frail Ontario Seniors: An in-depth examination of four vulnerable cohorts” looked at how the elderly will use the health-care system and studied older women, individuals with dementia living in the community, home care clients with serious medical conditions and individuals waiting for placement in long-term care homes.

Highlights of the report include the following:

• Older women account for the majority of long-term care placements, especially in the oldest age groups.

• Older women and older men use hospital and physician services at similar levels; however, older women are more likely to use long-term care services.

• Among older adults who received long-stay home care services, a larger proportion of women lived alone and relied on their children for support, whereas men also relied on a spouse.

• While waiting for placement in long-term care, older adults make frequent contact with the health-care system and have high rates of emergency department use.

• Women account for a larger proportion of older adults with dementia than men across age categories.

“The report reinforces what we’re seeing at the Alzheimer Society,” says David Harvey, chief member services officer at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. “Women are disproportionately affected by dementia and also make up the majority of caregivers to people with this disease.”

Harvey says that in order to alleviate some of the challenges faced by older women living with chronic conditions, more responsive care options are needed at home and in the community.

You can view the full report "Health system use by frail Ontario seniors: An in-depth examination of four vulnerable cohorts" in our DocumentCloud below.