Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Social Deprivation Assessment in Older Adults

This study is about understanding how social deprivation, which means lacking important social connections, resources, or opportunities, affects older adults. Researchers want to find a simple and effective way to measure this in Canada. They are using information from a large group of older Canadians to test new questionnaires and scores. The goal is to see if these new tools can better predict problems with a person's health, mental well-being, and social life. If successful, this could help doctors and healthcare providers identify older people at risk more quickly and offer better support. It's about finding better ways to understand and help older people stay healthy and connected.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Jewish General Hospital

Enrolment target

30,000

Start

01 Apr 2020

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2025

Geriatrics Social Deprivation

What is this study about?

This study is all about understanding how being 'socially deprived' can affect older adults. You might think of deprivation as just not having enough money, but social deprivation is broader. It means not having good social connections, or perhaps lacking access to important things that others in society have, which can lead to poorer health, mental well-being, and social problems. The researchers believe that looking at social deprivation specifically might be a better way to find people who need help, rather than just looking at their income or education level.

Currently, there isn't a simple way for doctors or healthcare providers in Canada to quickly assess if an older person is experiencing social deprivation. This study is testing new tools, like questionnaires, that aim to do just that. They are using a large amount of information from a study called the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), which has been collecting data from many older Canadians over time.

By looking at this information, the researchers want to see if their new tools can accurately identify people who might be struggling. If these tools work well, it could mean that healthcare professionals could spot problems earlier, be more proactive in offering support, and ultimately help older adults maintain a better quality of life and well-being.

Key takeaways

This study investigates how social deprivation affects older adults in Canada.
It aims to find better ways to identify those at risk of poor health and well-being.
Researchers are analysing existing data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).
No active participation is required from individuals for this specific study.
The goal is to help healthcare providers be more proactive in supporting older people.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people who are already part of a bigger health study in Canada called the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). You would need to have been a participant in the main, detailed assessments of that study.

To be considered for this specific research, you need to be between the ages of 45 and 85 years old. The study is open to both men and women.

You wouldn't be able to be included if there isn't enough information about your social situation or your health, mental well-being, and social outcomes available from the CLSA study you participated in.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 45 and 85 years old?
Have you been a participant in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)?
Did you complete the main, detailed assessments for the CLSA study?
Is there information available from your CLSA participation about your social status?
Is there information available from your CLSA participation about your health, mental, and social outcomes?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study is primarily about collecting and analysing existing information. This means you wouldn't need to attend any extra appointments, take any new medications, or have any follow-up visits. The researchers will be using information that has already been gathered from people who participated in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). There isn't any direct participation required from you beyond having been a part of that original study, so there's no additional time commitment on your part for this particular research.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only involves analysing existing, anonymised data from a previous study, there are no direct risks or physical discomforts for you. The potential benefit is that the findings could lead to better ways for healthcare providers to identify and support older adults who are experiencing social deprivation, potentially improving their health and well-being in the future. As you are not actively participating in new assessments, there is no need to consider withdrawing from this specific part of the research.

Locations (1)

Jewish General Hospital
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada

Common questions

What is 'social deprivation'?

Social deprivation means lacking important social connections, resources, or opportunities that are generally available in society, which can affect your health and well-being.

What are researchers hoping to find out?

They want to find a simple and effective way to measure social deprivation in older Canadians to better predict and help with health, mental, and social problems.

Do I need to do anything to take part?

No, you don't need to do anything new. This study uses information that has already been collected from a previous study you were part of.

Will this study help me directly?

This study's findings won't directly help you as an individual, but they could lead to better ways for healthcare to support older adults in the future.

Who is eligible for this study?

You need to be between 45 and 85 years old and have already participated in the detailed assessments of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).