Measuring potential assisted-transport demand for older adult care-recipients in Hamilton, Canada

Introduction Carer-employees are defined as individuals who are providing unpaid care usually to a loved one or friend while simultaneously working in the paid labour force. This specific population group is vulnerable to ill-health due to the various challenges faced in managing work-life balance. One of the most demanding and common caregiving tasks in Canada is assisted-transport, which involves running errands for the care-recipient, or driving the care recipient to appointments. Little is known about assisted-transport, except that the frequency of assisted-transport is based on the links between daily constraints and carer-employees’ care tasks; thereby, directly impacting work-life balance. An alternative to mitigate assisted-transport demand is to improve the independent mobility of care-recipients (older adults) using accessibility to services as a demand measurement index. Therefore, this research explores potential accessibility to vital services for the older adult, suggesting areas that may require service intervention within the Hamilton census metropolitan area (CMA) in Ontario, Canada. Methods The Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area method was used to analyze potential accessibility from residential addresses of those aged 65+ to vital services; access zones were then outlined. Older adult populations for each access zone were calculated using census data. Suggested areas for service implementation were identified using quadrat analyses of addresses via hexabins. Results Results inform the location of care-recipients living in potentially underserved areas (high assisted-transport demand) of the Hamilton CMA and, in so doing, provide visual insight for decision-makers and city planners to better mitigate mobility dependence.