Evaluation of the project "Vie Autonome Chez Soi" - Alternative for reconciling aging, loneliness and feeling of security among the elderly

In the shift from inpatient to outpatient care that the province of Quebec is presently experiencing, the prompt assistance offered to older persons i n their domestic environment, is the kind of help that needs to be examined . The pilot project "Vie autonome chez soi" was intended to offer this type of service. The project took place in Montreal during 1990 and offered thr ee services: a warden, a home security system and a telephone service (24-7 ). The objective of this evaluative study which uses a qualitative methodology is to discuss the implementation and functioning of the pilot project as w ell as to discover if some of the intended effects had been achieved throug h the services. Use of the alarm system had a positive impact on security f or most of the participants who were still active in the project at the tim e of the evaluation. The warden services and the 24-7 service also appear t o be important. We conclude that the complementarity dimension of the servi ces presents the greatest advantage for the participants' security.