Deborah Radcliffe-Branch, PhD, University of Montreal, Centre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC.
Cara Tannenbaum, MDCM, MSc, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Montreal, Centre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC.
Older women are one of the most rapidly growing segments of the Canadian population. This growth necessitates an evaluation of the quality and breadth of care women receive to promote successful aging in later life. Older women’s perceptions of health priorities being addressed by the current health care system and those for which improvements are required are reviewed. Recommendations include screening for memory loss, falls, muscle weakness, depression, and urinary incontinence. Guidelines for assessment and prevention as well as the adoption of a patient-centred approach to care are suggested to address the broader context of promoting physical, emotional, and social well-being for older women.
Key words: older women’s health, health priorities, patient-centred care, screening guidelines, primary care.
