BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO SENIORS INDEPENDENCE - PERCEPTIONS OF SENIORS, CAREGIVERS, AND HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS

OBJECTIVE To identify barriers and facilitators to independence as per ceived by seniors with chronic health problems and their caregivers. I n particular, researchers sought insights into seniors' experience of medical, home-based, and public health services. DESIGN This study use d the qualitative method of focus groups. SETTING London, Ont, and sur rounding area. PARTICIPANTS Seniors with chronic health problems and i nformal and formal caregivers were purposefully selected to participat e. METHOD Seven focus groups composed of seniors, informal caregivers, and health care providers representing each of the three primary care areas (medical, home-based, and public health) explored the barriers and facilitators to seniors' independence. MAIN FINDINGS Four main the mes characterized the barriers and facilitators to seniors' independen ce: attitudes and attributes, service accessibility, communication and coordination, and continuity of care. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of barrie rs and facilitators to seniors' independence in the context of the hea lth care system provides insight into how seniors can be empowered to remain independent. Health care providers need to communicate better, to foster more positive attitudes toward aging, and to participate in refining service access, coordination of services, and continuity of c are.