The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) has progressed from a vision initiated by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aging in 2001 to a federally funded national research platform in 2008. The development of the CLSA protocol was enhanced through a series of international peer reviews, a multisectorial Steering Committee, and a CIHR Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues committee; each was essential to the excellence of the science and to making the CLSA relevant to multiple sectors. The CLSA research team, led by three co-principal investigators (Kirkland, Raina, and Wolfson), has developed a unique protocol focusing on aging from cell to society, designed to follow 50,000 people aged 45 to 85, for 20 years. A strategic partnership with Statistics Canada has been crucial to the development and launch of the CLSA. The CLSA will contribute to our understanding of transitions and trajectories within an aging population, and will differ from longitudinal studies of aging worldwide through the breadth of its scope, the early age of recruitment into the study (age 45), the ethno-cultural diversity of Canada’s population, and the potential to link collected data to health administrative data at the provincial level. The CIHR is a novel longitudinal population-based study that will be an unprecedented research resource underpinning multidisciplinary research and evidence-based decision making in aging in Canada.

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging has progressed from a vision initiated by the CIHR Institute of Aging in 2001 to a federally funded national research platform in 2008. The development of the CLSA protocol was enhanced through a series of international peer reviews, a multisectorial Steering Committee, and a CIHR Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues committee; each was essential to the excellence of the science and to making the CLSA relevant to multiple sectors. The CLSA research team, led by three co-principal investigators (Kirkland, Raina, and Wolfson), has developed a unique protocol focusing on aging from cell to society, designed to follow 50,000 people aged 45 to 85, for 20 years. A strategic partnership with Statistics Canada has been crucial to the development and launch of the CLSA. The CLSA will contribute to our understanding of transitions and trajectories within an aging population, and will differ from longitudinal studies of aging worldwide through the breadth of its scope, the early age of recruitment into the study (age 45), the ethno-cultural diversity of Canada’s population, and the potential to link collected data to health administrative data at the provincial level. The CIHR is a novel longitudinal population-based study that will be an unprecedented research resource underpinning multidisciplinary research and evidence-based decision making in aging in Canada.

The coincidence of retirement and aging, experienced in the later stages of life, can trigger a recurrence of the bipolar tensions of earlier stages described in Erikson’s model of personality development. The model provides a means for retirees to understand the ground from which their present identity has developed and how the psychodynamics of previous life stages can be reactivated by the onset of retirement and aging. Stages of the model are illustrated by experiences within the context of retirement. The utility of Erikson’s model is suggested as a means of enhancing self-awareness, self-understanding, and adjustment to retirement.

Using data from the 2001 Census Public Use Microdata Files on Individuals, we examine the role of cultural preferences and economic constraints in elderly Canadians’ choice of living arrangements (living with one’s children and/or other relatives versus living independently). We find that members of ethnic groups holding familistic cultural values (Italian, Chinese, South Asian, and East Indian) are more likely than their individualistic counterparts (British, German, and Dutch) to live with kin. Economic disadvantage also entails a greater likelihood of living with kin. However, the relative importance of cultural preferences and economic constraints as determinants of living arrangements among the elderly depends on marital status. Among the married, cultural preferences explain a greater proportion of the variation in living arrangements; among the non-married, economic constraints do. This research contributes a more nuanced understanding of living arrangements among the elderly than its predecessors, which neglected the role of marital status.

The aim of this study is to explore cognitive complaint by investigating the influence of memory controlled processes (recollection) and metacognitive beliefs. Several methodological precautions were taken in order to control neuropsychological and psychopathological criteria, like anxiety, depression or objective memory trouble. The “habit paradigm” (Hay & Jacoby, 1999) was used to create a “memory slips” task, and to estimate the contributions of recollection and habit to performance. Besides, participants were asked to complete questionnaires in order to assess cognitive complaint (CDS) and metacognitive beliefs (MCQ). Results showed that neither cognitive complaint nor metacognitive beliefs differed significantly between young and older persons. However, statistical analysis did show cognitive dissociations in function of cognitive complaint. Finally, depressive affects, memory controlled processes and metacognitive beliefs about the controllability of thoughts appeared as good predictors of memory complaint. In spite of our study limitations, we discuss our results in terms of clinical implications.

Canadians are living longer, and older persons are making up a larger share of the population (14% in 2006, projected to rise to 20% by 2021). The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a national longitudinal study of adult development and aging that will recruit 50,000 Canadians aged 45 to 85 years of age and follow them for at least 20 years. All participants will provide a common set of information concerning many aspects of health and aging, and 30,000 will undergo an additional in-depth examination coupled with the donation of biological specimens (blood and urine). The CLSA will become a rich data source for the study of the complex interrelationship among the biological, physical, psychosocial, and societal factors that affect healthy aging.

Canada faces a significant challenge in meeting the health care needs of older adults with complex mental and physical health issues. Studies have shown collaborative mental health services to effectively address the diverse health needs of this group. However, an often overlooked yet important aspect of service delivery planning for this population is to ensure that older adults are sufficiently able to access available best-practice services. The article reports on a national consensus-building exercise conducted by the Collaborative Mental Health Initiative—Seniors Working Group to develop a nationally informed framework on the accessibility needs of older adults as they relate to collaborative mental health care. The framework is intended to provide planners, administrators, and providers with an understanding of the unique accessibility needs of older adults across three priority pillars (personal, caregiver, systemic) and to enable them to embed strategies to address these issues within field-based collaborative mental health initiatives.

In the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition of successful aging, researchers increasingly look to older adults for layperson views of aging and definitions of successful aging. To use lay definitions in studies of aging, however, researchers must address the definitions’ consistency. In 2004, surviving members of the Manitoba Follow-up Study male cohort (mean age: 83 years) were asked twice for their definition of successful aging. A consistency category was assigned based on the similarity of themes in each of 654 pairs of definitions. At least half of the main themes were similar in 70 per cent of the definition pairs; 80 per cent of respondents repeated at least one theme. Positive or negative health events in the four-week interval between definitions and specific respondents’ characteristics did not vary across consistency categories. This evidence for consistency supports our continued reliance on lay definitions of successful aging.

Hip fractures, fragility fractures, indicate an increased risk for further fragility fractures. Although the way to define osteoporosis, requiring antiresorptive therapy, is not clear, all patients who have had hip fractures should be prescribed calcium and vitamin D at a minimum. In a retrospective chart review, we have explored the effectiveness of incorporating a standing recommendation (but not a standing order) for calcium and vitamin D treatment in a hip fracture care pathway, comparing units where the pathway had been implemented with those where it had not yet been started. The pathway resulted in significantly more initiation of calcium and vitamin D compared to patients not on the pathway (72% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.01). However, a follow-up study after four years showed a marked decline in the frequency of the initiation of calcium and vitamin D, suggesting the need for ongoing encouragement for the intervention to continue to be successful.

Successful recruitment and retention for population-based longitudinal studies requires understanding facilitators and barriers to participation. This study explored Canadians’ views regarding one such study, the proposed Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Focus groups of participants ≥40 years of age were held in six proposed CLSA data collection sites (Halifax, Montreal, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver) to discuss participating in a long-term study of healthy aging. There was fundamental support for longitudinal research on health and aging. Altruism was a key motivation to participation, and universities were viewed as credible parties to conduct such studies. Participants had few worries about providing biological samples but expressed concern about potential misuse of genetic materials, commercialization of participant data, and privacy issues. These findings have already informed current, and will inform future, work on the CLSA, and will also provide useful information to researchers who undertake other population-based longitudinal studies.

In the province of Québec, services focusing on the instrumental activities of daily living are delivered to seniors by a combination of non-profit organizations and cooperatives. But do these organizations perform differently? This study asks whether home support cooperatives deliver higher-quality care than non-profit home support agencies. The specific effects of consumer and worker participation on the board of directors are also tested. Data were collected in 2006 and 2007 from 831 individuals receiving home support services from nine cooperatives and nine non-profits. Two consumer-centered measures of quality were used: a summated, 39-point satisfaction score and a 4-point overall quality score. Data were analyzed using ordered logistic regression. Results show that although organizational type was not a predictor of the two quality outcomes, worker involvement in governance was positively associated with the satisfaction score, while consumer involvement was positively associated with the overall quality score.

The goal of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is to recruit 50,000 participants aged 45 to 85 years of age and follow them for at least 20 years. The sampling and recruitment processes for a study of this scope and magnitude present important challenges. Statistics Canada was approached to collaborate with the CLSA with the goal of determining whether the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) could be used as a recruitment vehicle for the CLSA. In this pilot study conducted in 2004, it was determined that 63.8 per cent and 75.8 per cent of the respondents agreed to share their contact information and their survey responses with the CLSA, respectively. The most commonly reported concerns were confidentiality/privacy issues, lack of interest, and commitment issues. This pilot study identified some challenges to the use of the CCHS as a recruitment vehicle for the CLSA.

Leisure represents a positive way to keep relationships satisfactory between caregivers and a person with dementia. Adapted leisure education is a promising approach to assist the family to discover new ways to share good times with their relatives. This study aimed to develop an adapted leisure education program. It included an evaluation of the caregivers’ needs, the program content development, and a pilot study to experiment with the content of the program. Three focus groups of dementia caregivers (n = 19) were conducted to investigate caregivers needs. Based on content analysis of these focus groups and a literature review, the content of the program was developed. The pilot study (n = 4) included a quasi-experimental trial and an implementation evaluation. This study led to the development of an adapted leisure education program that puts caregiver support in a new perspective, focusing on positive aspects rather than the burden of caregiving.

The aim of this study was to assess the usability of a new Internet-based Caregiver Support Service (ICSS) and evaluate its effects on health outcomes of Chinese Canadians who cared for a family member with dementia. Demographic and questionnaire data were collected from 28 participants, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 participants. Results showed that non-users reported higher levels of burden post-intervetion, and frequent users showed post-intervention reduction in experienced burden. Traditional beliefs shaped caregivers’ needs; also, ethno-cultural-linguistic contexts affected system usability and were associated with usage behaviour. This study indicates that caregivers can benefit from receiving professional support via asynchronous e-mails and a dedicated information web site. The ICSS is a feasible approach for supporting caregivers who prefer an alternative service model. This emerging service requires more research in: enhanced technology design, service delivery models for immigrant caregivers, and evaluation of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

This study was carried out to explore the fit between health and functional characteristics of Day Program participants and the types of program activities they were offered in Day Programs. The subjects were 132 participants from 5 Day Programs in Montreal. Four different participant profile groups were identified using cluster analysis. A classification of program activities was created by a panel of experts. Participation in these activities was studied for each profile group, and compared to recommended activities for such client groups outlined through examination of the literature and consultation with our panel of experts. Results showed only partial correspondence between program activities and participants’ needs. This correspondence seemed higher for individuals with physical health problems or mobility impairments and weaker for those presenting depressive symptoms or cognitive impairments. These results suggest a need to review activity program components and determine ways to match better these with client needs to optimise the benefits of Day Program participation.