Frailty and Aging: How the Danish Experience Might Inform Canada

Healthc Q. 2019 Apr;22(1):14-21. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2019.25841.

Abstract

Scandinavian countries are widely acknowledged as leaders in innovative models of care for their aging populations. To learn what might be potentially applicable to the health system in Canada, the Canadian Frailty Network (CFN) led a contingent of government, administrative, research and patient representatives to Denmark to directly observe Danish approaches for providing healthcare for older adults living with frailty. In this paper and based on what we learned from these observations, we discuss healthcare challenges faced by Canada's aging population for which Danish strategies provide clues as to where and how to improve care and system efficiencies, thereby maximizing the value of Canadian healthcare.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Canada
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Denmark
  • Frail Elderly*
  • Health Policy
  • Hospital Administration / methods
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Long-Term Care / methods
  • Long-Term Care / organization & administration
  • Malnutrition / prevention & control
  • Rehabilitation Centers / organization & administration