9:00-11:05 | Room B Monday Online Presentation Session 1

Aging and Gerontology

Session Chair: Yiqi Wangliu

10:15-10:40

68826 | Factors Supporting Integrated Health and Social Care for Vulnerable Older Adults in Urban and Rural Regions in Canada

Siu Mee Cheng, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

Cristina Catallo, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

Canada’s ageing population will continue to put significant demands on health and social care systems. Integrated health and social care (IHSC) can support enhanced care outcomes for older adults including enabling successful ageing in place, minimizing avoidable acute care utilization, greater satisfaction and more comprehensive care. IHSC is an evolving phenomenon in Canada and requires greater understanding on the factors that support successful implementation within a Canadian context. A collective case study was undertaken of three IHSC initiatives in Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Key informant interviews and focus groups were undertaken with representatives from health and social care agencies. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify common factors that support integration. Shared vision and goals, communications, information sharing, dedicated resources, inter-organizational culture, leadership, role clarity, team-based approaches and champions were observed to support integration among different health and social services agencies. Of these factors, communications and shared vision and goals were perceived to be the most important because they help to find a point of commonality among different organizations. Governance authorities, public policies and priorities, public funding and operating in the not-for profit sector, geography, client characteristics, and a strong sense of community were observed as external factors that exert a positive and negative influence on integration. IHSC can flourish at the local level in Canada, in rural, urban/rural and urban settings when the focus is on strengthening the relationship between different health and social care agencies. This study points to whole-of-government policymaking and systems planning to enable successful integration.

10:40-11:05

68449 | Assessing Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Sexuality of Older Adults: Implications for Sexuality Education

Hoi Nga Ng, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong

Kam Weng Boey, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Background: Unsatisfied sexual need may deleteriously affect holistic well-being of older adults. However, older adults are reluctant to bring up their sexual concerns partly due to sexuality is an aspect of private life, partly because sexual issues are still a taboo in the society. Health care professionals may therefore need to take a proactive role to address sexual concern of older patients. However, issues on sexuality are rarely brought up in routine health assessment. Nurses feel uncomfortable and were not willing to provide sexual health care to elderly patients. Inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes were suggested to be two major barriers. Objectives: This study assessed nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding aging sexuality, with a view to provide teaching materials for nursing education. Methods: The Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Scale (ASKAS) was used as a measuring instrument. Participants were 258 first year nursing students (mean age = 19.3, SD = 1.7; 90.7% females) of three nursing schools run by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong. Results: The data indicated that nursing students’ knowledge about aging sexuality was inadequate. More than two-thirds of the knowledge items were answered incorrectly. The students also showed conservative attitudes towards sexuality of older adults. More than 80% of the items on sexuality of older adults were endorsed with conservative attitudes. Conclusions: Findings of this study indicate a crucial need to promote of knowledge and positive attitudes regarding aging sexuality among nursing students. Pertinent information collected from this study provides useful reference materials for designing training program for sexuality education. Limitations of the study and shortcomings of ASKAS as a measure aging sexuality were considered.

11:20-12:35