Developing a blueprint for a Community Paramedic-driven food insecurity screening and referral intervention for older adults with dementia.

More and more older adults are experiencing food insecurity, especially those with limited mobility, limited food access, and those experiencing cognitive impairment. There is an opportunity to better understand the complex interactions of food insecurity and health in older adults, including in more marginalized sub-populations such as community-dwelling older adults living with dementia. This study aims to (1) evaluate the role of community paramedics embedded in the Family Health Team model in providing care to high-risk patients including those experiencing food insecurity; and (2) co-develop, pilot test, and evaluate a community paramedic-driven food insecurity screening and assessment tool for high-risk, community-dwelling older adults.

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation at Baycrest, Spark Program

Project Lead: Krystal Kehoe MacLeod kmacleod@bruyere.org

Research Coordinator: Sarisha Philip sphilip@bruyere.org

Kehoe MacLeod K, Hector A, Izzard T, Sitka K, Evans J, Campbell S, Leung W, Wicks V, Philip S. (November 28, 2024). Using a community-based research approach to catalyze community-driven initiatives to address food insecurity in older adults in partnership with primary care providers, community organizations, and people with living/lived experience. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Oral presentation and poster presentation.

Hector A, Philip S, Lanos C, Leduc S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Bercier G, Bruce B, Ferguson K, LeBouthillier C, Cruchet M, Rose S, Theron S, Kehoe MacLeod K. (November 28, 2024). Effective strategies to optimize co-design with community paramedics to collaboratively develop and pilot screening tools.” Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Hector A, Philip S, Lanos C, Leduc S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Bercier G, Hewton K, Tiukuvaara S, Bruce B, Ferguson F, LeBouthillier C, Kehoe MacLeod K. (October 24-26, 2024). Pilot project expansion: Co-developing and evaluating a community paramedic-driven food insecurity screening and assessment tool for older adults in Ontario, Canada.” Canadian Association of Gerontology 53rd Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting. Edmonton, Alberta. Poster presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Philip S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Hewton K, Bercier G, Bruce B, Ferguson K, LeBouthillier C, Tanuseputro P & Tiukuvaara S. July 11-15, 2024. Co-designing and Piloting a Community Paramedic-Driven Food Insecurity Screening and Assessment Tool for High-Risk Older Adults. European Conference on Aging & Gerontology. London, United Kingdom. Oral presentation.

Philip S, Tiukuvaara S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Hewton K, Fraser M, Bercier G, Bruce B, Ferguson K, LeBouthillier C, Maskerine C, Tanuseputro P, & Kehoe MacLeod K. Jun 17-18, 2024. “A Qualitative RE-AIM Evaluation of an Embedded Community Paramedicine Program in an Ontario Family Health Team.” North American Primary Care Research Group’s Practice-Based Research Network Conference. Virginia, United States of America. Oral Presentation.

Philip S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Hewton K, Bercier G, Bruce B, Ferguson K, LeBouthillier C, Tanuseputro P, +Tiukuvaara S, & Kehoe MacLeod K. Jun 17-18, 2024. “Co-designing and Piloting a Community Paramedic-Driven Food Insecurity Screening and Assessment Tool for High-Risk Older Adults in an Ontario Family Health Team.” North American Primary Care Research Group’s Practice-Based Research Network Conference. Virginia, United States of America. Oral Presentation.

Philip S, Izzard T, Sitka K, Hewton K, Bercier G, Bruce B, Ferguson K, LeBouthillier C, Tanuseputro P, Tiukuvaara S, & Kehoe MacLeod K. May 14-16, 2024. “Co-designing and Piloting a Community Paramedic-Driven Food Insecurity Screening and Assessment Tool for High-Risk Older Adults in an Ontario Family Health Team.” Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference. Ottawa, Canada. Oral Presentation.

Philip S, Konikoff L, Izzard T, LeBouthillier C, Bruce B, Tanuseputro P, Isenberg S, Maskerine C, Kehoe MacLeod K. (Nov 15-16, 2023). Developing a blueprint for a community paramedic-driven food insecurity screening and referral intervention for older adults with dementia. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Research Day 2023. Ottawa, Ontario. Poster presentation.

Philip S, Konikoff L, Izzard T, LeBouthillier C, Bruce B, Tanuseputro P, Isenberg S, Maskerine C, Kehoe MacLeod K. (Oct 26-28, 2023). Developing a blueprint for a community paramedic-driven food insecurity screening and referral intervention for older adults with dementia. Canadian Association on Gerontology’s 51st Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting. Toronto, Ontario. Poster presentation.

Coming Soon.