Determinants of Health
Health is multi-faceted and so are the factors that contribute to an individual's overall sense of well-being. These factors are often called "determinants of health" and include not only an individual's biology or psychology, but many aspects of their environment as well.
What are the main determinants of health?
- Education
- Unemployment and job insecurity
- Working life conditions
- Food insecurity
- Housing, basic amenities and the environment
- Early childhood development
- Social inclusion and non-discrimination
- Structural conflict
- Access to affordable health services of decent quality.
- Income and social status
- Employment and working conditions
-
Education and literacy
-
Childhood experiences
-
Physical environments
-
Social supports and coping skills
-
Healthy behaviours
-
Access to health services
-
Biology and genetic endowment
-
Gender
-
Culture
-
Race / Racism
- Age, sex, constitutional factors
-
Individual lifestyle
-
Social and community networks
-
Agriculture and food production
-
Education
-
Work environment
-
Living and working conditions
-
Unemployment
-
Water and sanitation
-
Health care services
-
Housing
-
General socioeconomic cultural and environmental conditions
Determinants of Health Correlated with Admission to Long Term Care
A Prospective Study of Long-Term Care
Those most likely to be admitted to LTC were:
-
>80 yrs old
-
lived alone
-
used mobility aids
-
were disoriented
-
required assistance for IADL
Transitions to LTC Among Canadians
Predictors of admission to LTC:
-
age
-
loss of a spouse
-
physical/cognitive limitations,
-
acute health events,
-
diagnosis of chronic conditions,
-
low self-perceived general health
LTC Admissions Following Hospitalization​
-
For people in their 70's, social vulnerability was linked to lower long term care admissions, even in the most frail individuals.
-
For people in their 90's who were less frail, social vulnerability increased their odds of LTC admission. For those who were more frail, social vulnerability had no impact.
Social Determinants of Length of LTC Stays
Factors related to longer LTC stays:
-
female gender
-
multiple comorbidities
-
preceding hospitalizations
-
higher care needs
-
living alone
-
low educational level
Legislation and Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice in Alberta, Canada
Governs protection and access to health information.
Alberta College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics
Identifies principles that must be withheld for ethical occupational therapy practice.
Legislation and Standards for Continuing Care in Alberta, Canada
This bill has not yet been passed, but would replace all existing continuing care legislation.
Facility Based Care Review​​
A recent comprehensive review that will impact future directions for continuing care in Alberta.
Current legislation for nursing homes. Expected to be replaced by Bill 11.