Project 459762

There are many groups of people who experience aging differently due to their race, ethnicity, immigration status, income, or other factors. One reason is that they often face additional barriers in accessing primary care. For example, they may have language barriers or mobility challenges. When they cannot access primary care, this results in higher rates of chronic disease and poor health over their lifespan. By bringing healthcare to where individuals live, it can help to overcome these barriers. The result is better healthcare in the short term and better aging in the long term. This research project will focus on two interventions to help overcome these barriers: the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) Program, and the At Home/Chez Soi program. The CP@clinic Program uses community paramedics to improve the health and quality of life for older adults living in social housing. The At Home/Chez Soi program provides both housing and mental health treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness. This research project proposes to implement the CP@clinic and At Home/Chez Soi programs in new municipalities (Surrey and Victoria, British Columbia; Hamilton, Ontario). This process will be evaluated to find out how the program works best, for whom, and in what settings. We will be working with many community partners, including social housing organizations and paramedic services, to achieve this project. The results will help guide future expansions of the CP@clinic and At Home/Chez Soi programs to other municipalities across Canada. This will improve the delivery of healthcare for many populations that cannot access it and will ultimately improve population health in Canada.