RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Unregulated health care workers in the care of aging populations: Similarities and differences between Brazil and Canada
JF Family Medicine and Community Health
JO Fam Med Com Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 3
OP 14
DO 10.15212/FMCH.2015.0113
VO 4
IS 1
A1 Mirella Veras
A1 Nicole Paquet
A1 Eliany N. Oliveira
A1 David Zakus
A1 Raywat Deonandan
A1 Kevin Pottie
YR 2016
UL http://fmch.bmj.com/content/4/1/3.abstract
AB Introduction The world’s population is rapidly aging. Unregulated health care workers (UHCWs) are emerging as a potentially important workforce in the care of older adults.Objective A review was conducted to identify the activities of UHCWs with respect to contributions and limitations.Methods A systematic integrative literature review was conducted using online databases (LILACS, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and grey literature). The inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) description of UHCW activities related to older adults; and (ii) description of UHCW activities performed in Brazil or Canada.Results Eleven papers were included in this review. In both countries, UHCW activities included health promotion, mental health care, and rehabilitation. In Brazil, UHCWs performed integrated care, while in Canada UHCWs performed personal care and housekeeping.Conclusion These results highlight the potential and limits of UHCWs who provide care for the aging population. Such information is important to health and social policy making and household decision making.