Overview
This regional site of the Improving Seniors Quality of Life Project is being managed by the Seniors Education Centre at the University of Regina.
A coordinating committee, comprised of seniors and representatives from organizations working with seniors,
provides direction for the project. Two researchers have been contracted to
conduct interviews and prepare the reports.
Project Plan
Our first task as a group was to design an overall plan for
the Regina project. The research methodology that is being used in our
project, the geographic scope of the project, the anticipated project outcomes,
and the timelines are described below. Research Methodology
Qualitative research methods are being used to collect data for the
project. In contrast to quantitative research methods that focus on collecting
numbers and statistics, qualitative methods focus on understanding a situation
from the perspective or frame of reference of the individuals who are involved
in the situation. This is different from quantitative research, which is
based on the assumption that there is a single, objective reality that
is independent of the participants in a situation.
In qualitative research, the researcher is the data-gathering instrument.
She talks to people and/or observes them in their natural situation. This
is in contrast to quantitative research where paper-and-pencil tests and
mechanical instruments are used as research tools.
The design of the study emerges as the study progresses. In qualitative
research, the researcher starts with an outline of a research plan and
develops the design as the study progresses. This approach permits adapting
the plan for the study to include variables that were not anticipated before
the study began. This is in contrast to quantitative research where all
aspects of the study are planned in detail before the study begins.
The researcher analyzes the data inductively. A qualitative researcher
first gathers the data and then tries to develop understandings and draw
conclusions. This is in contrast to quantitative research where the researcher
begins with a hypothesis and then sets out to prove or disprove the hypothesis.
Data Collection Processes
Three data collection activities are being undertaken: interviews with
seniors; interviews with people providing services to seniors; and, a literature
review. Each of these activities is described in more detail in the sections
that follow.
Interviews with Seniors
The experts on the factors that influence seniors' quality of life are,
of course, seniors themselves. Seniors know better than anyone else what
keeps them well and happy and what actions need to be taken to promote
high quality of life among people 55 and over.
Accordingly, the main data collection activity for the Regina project
is interviews with seniors. Seniors, like all other age groups within the
general population, are not a homogeneous group. Therefore, the seniors
who are being interviewed are diverse. The project coordinator and research
assistant are trying to interview seniors:
of both genders; of various income levels; of all ages, from "young"
seniors in their late 50s to "older" seniors of 90+; living on farms, in
small towns and in cities; in a variety of personal situations, for example,
single, widowed, married; those who are caregivers; those who are receiving
care; those who have responsibility for grandchildren, etc.; and, in a
variety of residential situations, for example, those who live in detached
homes, in regular apartments, in apartments in seniors' complexes, in assisted
living situations, in nursing homes, etc.
Most interviews are being done one-on-one. A few group interviews with
two to four participants are also being done depending upon the situation.
Interview participants are asked five questions:
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What are some things that enhance seniors' quality of life?
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What are some things that detract from seniors' quality of life?
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What are some things that you and other seniors are presently doing to
ensure that you have a high quality of life?
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Are there additional things that you and other seniors, as individuals
and as groups, can do to ensure that seniors have a high quality of life?
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What do you think that government agencies and community groups can do
to ensure that seniors have a high quality of life?
Seniors who are interviewed are asked to sign a consent form and to provide
basic demographic data about themselves.
Senior interview participants are being provided with an honorarium
of $25.00 to acknowledge the value of their expertise and time. This is
in keeping with past practice at the Seniors' Education Centre, which usually
acknowledges the contribution of interview participants with an honorarium.
The budget provides for up to 40 interviews with seniors. However, the
precise number of interviews done will depend on the circumstances of those
interviews. For example, it will be possible to reach more interview participants
if a few small group interviews are done in addition to one-on-one interviews.
We decided to use individual and/or small group interviews rather than
focus groups, because:
People will speak more freely and more personally about the issues that
concern them in a one-on-one interview than they would in a focus group.
It is possible to reach a broader range of people through interviews than
through focus groups. For example, people in nursing homes or personal
care homes, people with physical disabilities or age-related frailty, and
"young" seniors, 55-65, who are still working would likely not be able
to participate in focus groups, but can be reached through interviews.
We decided to define our target group as people 55 and over, because
this is the definition of a senior used by the Seniors' Education Centre,
University of Regina.
Interview participants are being identified primarily through three
means: The members of the Project Coordinating Committee have been invited
to assist in identifying potential interview participants and to act as
a liaison in setting interviews. Personal and professional acquaintances
of the project coordinator and research assistant are being asked if they
wish to participate in interviews. The two project staff live in different
communities and have different social circles and professional contacts.
Thus, considerable variety will result. Interview participants are asked
if they know of any other people in their community who might be interested
in participating in interviews.
Interviews with Service Providers
Six to 12 individuals who provide services to seniors will be interviewed.
Service providers interviewed might include health care workers, administrators
of seniors' day centres or residential complexes, administrators of seniors'
organizations such as the Seniors' Education Centre, volunteers with organizations
such as Meals on Wheels, etc.
Literature Review
A literature review on factors that influence seniors' physical and
psychological health is being done. Sources that are being searched included
books and journals on gerontology and health, publications from seniors'
organizations and appropriate websites on the Internet.
Geographic Scope
The focus of this project is on seniors in Regina and surrounding
rural areas. It is important that the quality of life of seniors in rural
Saskatchewan be addressed because:
Approximately half of Saskatchewan's population lives outside the province's
11 major urban centres.
In small communities, a higher percentage of citizens are seniors than
in Regina. For example, in Beechy, Saskatchewan, a village of 281 people,
the average age is 48.2 years and 37 percent of the population is over
65 years old.
Changing economics and increasing centralization mean that health, business
and recreational services are increasingly located in large centres. This
means that rural people of all ages have further to go to get the services
they need. This is of particular concern to seniors who may no longer be
able to drive, or who may face moving from their community of a lifetime
in order to access services.
Accordingly, the seniors interviewed will come from small towns and
farms in a 100- kilometre radius of Regina as well as from Regina itself.
Outcomes
Two products will be produced at the conclusion of the project:
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A project report that identifies factors that contribute to seniors' quality
of life and provides an action plan for activities that government and
community groups can undertake to ensure a high quality of life for Saskatchewan
seniors.
-
Seniors' resource materials that describe activities that seniors themselves
(as individuals and as groups) can do to promote a high quality of life
for themselves.
Copies of these publications will be distributed to seniors' groups and
to government and community agencies. Summaries will appear on the Seniors
Quality of Life web site and the Seniors' Education Centre web site. As
well, summaries will be mailed to interview participants who requested
them by checking a box on the interview consent form. Near the end of the
project, Loraine will develop a dissemination plan for getting these materials
out to appropriate audiences.
Management and Staff
The project is under the overall supervision and management
of Dr. Don King, Director of the Seniors' Education Centre, University
of Regina.
In late May 1999, two experienced researchers were contracted to do
the research and writing associated with the project.
Project Coordinator
Loraine Thompson (of Loraine Thompson Information Services)
Phone and fax: (306) 757-2306
E-mail: ltisl@sk.sympatico.ca
Research Assistant
Jayne Melville Whyte
Phone and fax: (306) 332-5702
E-mail: jcmwhyte@sk.sympatico.ca
Both Loraine and Jayne are over 50 and thus are more likely to have greater
credibility with people 55 and over, and perhaps greater understanding
of and empathy for seniors' situations.
Timelines
The project will be completed in January 2000. A list of project
activities, along with tentative completion dates, appears below.
May 10, 1999 Project Coordinating Committee is appointed. Loraine and
Jayne are contracted. Loraine writes project proposal.
May 31, 1999 Coordinating Committee reviews project proposal.
June 14, 1999 Loraine prepares package to go to University of Regina's
Research Ethics Board package includes U of R's Ethics Approval form and
a detailed description for the project.
June 28, 1999 Coordinating Committee reviews package for Ethics Board.
Jayne reviews package for Ethics Board. Loraine revises the evaluation
plan and package for Ethics Board. Ethics package goes to University of
Regina Research Ethics Board.
June 28, 1999 Approval is received from University of Regina Research
Ethics Board. Loraine and Jayne begin interviews.
August 23, 1999 Media release is issued.
September 27, 1999 Loraine and Jayne complete interviews. Interviews
two-thirds complete
October 4, 1999 Loraine and Jayne meet with Coordinating Committee and
describe results of interviews. Committee makes suggestions for action
plan and for resource materials for seniors' use.
October 25, 1999 Loraine completes literature review that is to be incorporated
into project report. Literature review one-third done
November 8, 1999 Loraine completes the first draft of the project report.
Project report is distributed to Coordinating Committee and to Jayne Whyte.
November 15, 1999 Coordinating Committee provides feedback on project
report (meeting). Jayne provides feedback on project report. Loraine prepares
a second draft of project report.
November 29, 1999 Loraine completes first draft of seniors' resource
materials. Seniors' resource materials are distributed to Coordinating
Committee and to Jayne.
December 6, 1999 Coordinating Committee provides feedback on resource
materials (meeting). Jayne provides feedback on resource materials. Loraine
prepares a second draft of resource materials. Coordinating Committee makes
suggestions for dissemination of project report and seniors' resource materials
(meeting).
December 20, 1999 Loraine completes the dissemination plan.
January 16, 2000 Loraine makes any additional changes to materials that
may be needed .
February 1, 2000 Project is formally completed.
Ongoing throughout 2000 Materials are distributed, media releases and
summaries are issued, Coordinating Committee meets with government officials.
Progress to Date (September 3, 1999)
Project Coordinating Committee has been appointed. Project staff has
been contracted. Project plan has been completed along with accompanying
materials such as interview consent form, demographic survey for interview
participants and package for approval by University of Regina's Research
Ethics Board. Project Coordinating Committee has met twice. Approval to
proceed with interviews has been received from University of Regina's Research
Ethics Board. Interviews are two-thirds done. Literature review is one-third
done (most relevant literature has been identified and collected). Media
release has been issued.
For More Information
We would be pleased to provide you with more information about
our project. We are also willing to share:
-
project plan application for approval by University of Regina Research
Ethics Board
- sample introductory letters and telephone scripts that explain the purpose
of the project to potential interview participants
- interview guidelines
- demographic form
- media release
Please contact:
Loraine Thompson
Loraine Thompson Information Services
#401 2305 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK
S4P 0S7
Phone and fax: (306) 757-2306
E-mail: ltisl@sk.sympatico.ca
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Results from Regina
Project Updates
Oct. 2000
Apr. 2000
Dec. 1999
Nov. 1999
General
Coordinating Committee
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UNIVERSITY
OF
REGINA